Miguel A. Melgar, MD, PHD, FACS, treated New Orleans Saints' Delvin Breaux at Tulane Medical Center after his C4 and C5 vertebrae slid forward in a collision during a high school game in 2006 which also crushed his natural neck curve and broke his C6, according to Sunherald.com.
Dr. Melgar secured the break with an incision under Breaux's jaw and during a second surgery, placed a plate in the back of his neck. According to Canada's TSN, Dr. Melgar said Mr. Breaux had a 50 percent chance of dying on the spot.
According to the Sun Herald article, when Breaux asked Dr. Melgar if he would play again, the doctor said, "Just make sure you send me Super Bowl tickets when you get to the NFL."
Mr. Breaux was a top prospect at that time, but has gone on to play professional football for a number of teams in Arena Football League and Canadian Football League, and signed with the Saints in January.
Dr. Melgar is board certified in neurological surgery hand and has expertise in back injuries, brain cancer, head and neck disorders and neurosurgery. He received his degree from Universidad Nacional Mayor De San Marcos, Lima.
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