Positive news for Vermeulen

Editor

South Africa and the Stormers have received positive news on the injury affecting Duane Vermeulen, after he consulted a neurosurgeon on Monday.

Number eight Vermeulen suffered an intense spasm in his neck after last Friday's captain's run, with an MRI showing a bulging disc at a C5 level.

However, the Bok back-row star consulted a neurosurgeon on Monday and the prognosis was positive ahead of the upcoming Super Rugby play-offs, with the Stormers set to host either a quarter or semi-final in the coming weeks.

"Duane Vermeulen saw a neurosurgeon today (Monday) and the neurosurgeon has given us the positive feedback that he continues to improve and that he still shows no signs of specific nerve root irritation," Stormers team doctor, Dr Jason Suter, explained on the www.iamastormer.com website.

"After reviewing the MRI with his radiology colleagues, the neurosurgeon is confident that the disc bulge is old and has not changed from previous scans, and is not the cause of the severe spasm. He has recommended no surgical management and Duane will undergo extensive physiotherapy over the next ten days.

"The neurosurgeon has also indicated that there is no risk of exacerbating the injury and feels that Duane will be able to play in the Super Rugby play-offs.

"The DHL Stormers medical team will continue to manage him, and he will obtain a second neurosurgical opinion tomorrow (Tuesday) to ensure he is given all possible input to his injury and its management."