A Casper neurosurgeon played a role in developing the experimental treatment that helped save the life of Buffalo Bills football player Kevin Everett and might give him the chance to walk again.

After Everett sustained a severe spinal cord injury during Sunday's game, doctors in New York pumped icy cold saline into his veins to try to prevent further damage. Tuesday, Everett showed signs of movement and doctors were encouraged.

The treatment of inducing moderate hypothermia, or cooling of the body, has been researched at several spinal cord programs across the United States, including the Miami Project at the University of Miami Miller School of Science.

Dr. Brian Wieder, a neurosurgeon at the Wyoming Medical Center, did a fellowship with the Miami Project.

While he was there he worked with other neurosurgeons on developing this treatment. He co-authored a study published in the Journal of Neurosurgery: Spine in 2000 on the effects of hypothermia on spinal cord injuries in rats.

He said this study duplicated previous studies and human clinical trials of this treatment started shortly after the study was published.

"I was part of the brain power team that put this together," Wieder said.

He explained the body must be cooled to a dangerous level, about 91.4 degrees, and the hypothermia can limit swelling, inflammation and further damage to the spine.

The experimental cooling needs to be applied immediately after the injury. The more time passes, the less effective the treatment is, Wieder said.

He said the treatment was effective in Everett's case because he was young and healthy, because doctors in the stadium immediately called the Miami Project about the treatment and because the Miami Project was educated enough to apply it.

"You may want to call it a miracle," Wieder said. "But really it is the result of high quality research capabilities and forward-thinking physicians.

"About as early as five or 10 years ago, people with spinal cord injuries had no chance of recovery," he said.

The Wyoming Medical Center has the technology and knowledge to use experimental cooling on spinal cord patients, Wieder said.

It has been used to treat brain injury and stroke patients before, but never spinal cord injuries.

Just this past week, Wieder said he saw three high school football players in his office with neurological injuries: one with a concussion, one with a cervical spine injury and one with both.

Wieder said spinal cord injuries are more common in amateur sports than professional sports.

Younger athletes have bodies that are not fully matured, rarely take the time to condition properly and do not have fitted equipment.

Also, he said that although football injuries may get more attention, the incidence of spinal cord injuries in football is a lot lower than in other sports such as skiing or gymnastics.

Contact health reporter Allison Rupp at (307) 266-0534 or allison.rupp@casperstartribune.net.