left, and Taro Kaibara at pre-Super Bowl game.
Photo courtesy Chandler Regional Medical Center
Dr. Taro Kaibara, director of neurosurgery at Chandler Regional Medical Center and a neurosurgeon at St. Joseph’s renown Barrow Neurological Institute, may have appeared to be behind the scenes at Super Bowl XLIX, but that didn’t stand in the way of him tackling serious medical concerns when they occurred on the playing field. Although patient confidentiality rules precluded a discussion of how Kaibara and his neurological colleague Dr. Javier Cardenas were called into duty, Carmelle Malkovich, a senior corporate communications specialist for Dignity Health, said the two were “actively involved” in player evaluation and care throughout the game. Kaibara was selected by the National Football League to provide concussion expertise on the sidelines during the game. The appointment is part of an NFL guideline that places independent medical specialists on the sidelines at all games to better address concussion. Kaibara and his Chandler Regional/ Barrow colleague, Dr. Javier Cardenas, were on the sidelines to provide neurological specialty support to the physicians of the Seattle Seahawks and the New England Patriots. The CRMC/Barrow physicians were selected for the NFL’s Unaffiliated Neurotrauma Consultant program based on Barrow’s neurological treatment of brain and spinal cord injuries, including concussion. Kaibara and Cardenas, who also is medical director of the Barrow Concussion and Brain Injury Center at St. Joseph’s Hospital and Medical Center, provide the same services at home NFL and Arizona State University football games. “I was very excited to be part of this year’s Super Bowl,” said Kaibara. “It’s important to quickly recognize and treat football players who have suffered a concussion so that they don’t immediately return to the game and put themselves at risk for a more serious brain injury.” Drs. Kaibara and Cardenas remain on the field to examine players immediately after they return to the sidelines if they show concussion symptoms. If it’s determined a player has suffered a concussion, the physicians discuss appropriate treatment. The move is part of the NFL’s vigilance in limiting the number of head injuries and addressing them earlier during games. “Concussion needs to be taken seriously and we’re happy the NFL has initiated these guidelines to help protect their athletes against brain injury,” said Kaibara.
