CU linebacker Kenneth Olugbode (31), who returns to the starting lineup this week after missing two games, is lucky his leg injury wasn’t much worse (Cliff Grassmick/Daily Camera).
Boulder — Colorado inside linebacker Kenneth Olugbode is lucky to be back in the starting lineup this week after missing only two games with acute compartment syndrome in his leg, much less than the initial prognosis of six to eight weeks.
For that matter, he’s lucky the injury wasn’t much, much worse. Compartment syndrome occurs when fluid builds up in a muscle compartment — in Olugbode’s case, in response to a blow to the muscle in the Oregon game — and it can become a very serious situation. An athlete with compartment syndrome can lose a limb in extreme cases.
“Yes, you can,” CU coach Mike MacIntyre said Wednesday. “We’re real fortunate.”
Olubgode had surgery the night of the injury to relieve pressure in the muscle compartment.
“They took him (to the hospital) during the game as soon as they realized what was happening, so they didn’t have to make as big an incision,” MacIntyre said. “They made two small incisions. They would have had to make a big, big incision (if not for quick action) and the healing process would have taken a lot longer. They got the pressure off, it’s healed correctly, no infection, so they’ve released him to play and he’s ready to roll.”
Initially the injury felt to Olugbode felt like a bruise, but gradually it got much worse. He had surgery about 2 a.m. the night of the game.
“They did all these tests on me and said I had to go to get surgery,” Olugbode said. “It was kind of crazy, how fast it all happened.”
He knows how lucky he is.
“Extremely blessed,” Olugbode said. “I’m really happy to be back.”
