Whilst any back injury is cause for concern and will obviously upset the injured party, Neymar's early exit from Brazil's World Cup squad after being subject to a violent tackle during the closing stages of the country's 2-1 against Columbia in the quarter finals surely ranks up there as a 'devastating' injury for timing reasons alone.

After being taken off the pitch in obvious agony, Neymar has undergone extensive medical examination and has been diagnosed with a fractured L3 vertebra. But thankfully for both the footballer and his family, the injury is not a catastrophic one and Neymar is expected to make a full recovery.

There are two important messages Neymar's case highlights when it comes to a back injury. First, when an injury is sustained to the back, it is vital that medical attention be immediately sought, so that the seriousness of the injury can be properly diagnosed, and any dangers to the spinal cord be discovered and appropriately treated. Thankfully for Neymar, his injury was, putting it mildly, fairly visible to several third parties, ensuring his immediate treatment by experienced medical professionals, enabling him to start on the road to recovery. Serious injuries can however, follow fairly minor accidents. Certain warning signs should never be ignored after a back injury, including excessive sweating, inability to urinate, limb weakness or loss of sensation.

A second crucial factor is ensuring the injured party has enough time to properly recover. Neymar's prognosis is good and Brazil doctor Jose Luiz Runco has suggested that it is possible he could return to action in about 45 days. Whatever the scale of a back injury, allowing adequate recuperation time is crucial in ensuring the injured party is able to make as full a recovery as the injury will allow and some rather wild speculation that Neymar would have been able to play in the World Cup Final if Brazil had beaten Germany last night, is entirely groundless exactly because of the recovery need Neymar's injury presents.

Happily, this speculation has been quashed by a statement released about Neymar's medical condition firmly stated that "no alternative treatment was discussed and "If Neymar becomes fit to play before initially expected, it will be because of the positive progress of his condition through the treatment being administered.

On the run up to last night, pundits suggested that losing Neymar from the Brazil squad would damage the team's World Cup hopes. Although I'm sure few would have predicted quite such a hammering, and I'm sure Neymar was upset at not being able to compete in the semi final, it is a relief to know that a full recovery is on the cards and, at 22, this is certainly not Neymar's last chance to be involved in a World Cup.

If you or a loved one has suffered a back injury as a result of an accident and are considering making a personal injury claim, I'm happy to discuss things further with you. You can get in touch with me on andrew.lilley@jmw.co.uk or on 0800 054 6750.

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