UPDATE: Former Siegel Boys Coach Skull Surgery Successful

Jun 29, 2020 at 11:16 pm by WGNS

Former Siegel boys basketball coach Ben Dotson

Former Siegel High School boys basketball coach Ben Dotson is recovering after having skull surgery on Monday (June 29). 

By late afternoon, the family reported the surgery was a success. His brother, Von Dotson, previously said doctors were going to "install a flapper in the skull. When he had the fracture a couple of fragments went into his skull. If they don’t do what they're doing and he fell it could cause swelling in the brain, and that wouldn't be good."

Dotson was involved in a serious car accident June 19th on I-840.


 

PREVIOUSLY REPORTED

Former Siegel High boys basketball coach Ben Dotson is not set to undergo a critical surgery on Monday (June 29, 2020), ten days after a bad car accident on I-840.

His brother, Von Dotson, previously said doctors were going to "install a flapper in the skull. When he had the fracture a couple of fragments went into his skull. If they don’t do what they're doing and he fell it could cause swelling in the brain, and that wouldn't be good."

The surgery was originally scheduled for Thursday but an emergency with another patient delayed Dotson's operation until Monday.


PREVIOUSLY REPORTED

Former Siegel High School boys basketball coach Ben Dotson was set to have a critical surgery on Thursday after a bad car accident on Interstate 840 last Friday (June 19, 2020) at 10:30 a.m.

That surgery was delayed due to emergency surgery for another patient and is being rescheduled.

Dotson suffered a skull fracture and was Life Flighted to Vanderbilt hospital.


PREVIOUSLY REPORTED

He was scheduled to undergo surgery but developed a fever, forcing the surgery was put on hold.

"I tell you, he finally caught a break," said his brother Von Dotson. "He got Life Flighted and had a skull fracture. They were going to do surgery, but he got a fever and they said they couldn't so the surgery until the fever broke.”

The fever did break and he is schedule to undergo surgery on Thursday morning at 7:30.

"They're going to install a flapper in the skull. When he had the fracture a couple of fragments went into his skull. If they don’t do what they're doing and he fell it could cause swelling in the brain, and that wouldn't be good. He had some internal bleeding but is doing better. Tomorrow is a big day."

Von Dotson said his brother was put in essentially put in a coma.

"Up until yesterday it was hit or miss," he said. "He's been sedated and put in a coma for a lack of a better term. Sometimes they'll wean him off. He's been able to answer their commands like clinching his fists or raising his thumb, which is good.

"All of his vitals are good and the white cell count is, too, which we need. Everything looks good, but the doctors point out that things can go wrong like and an infection or seizure or a stroke. We're putting our hands and trust in God."

Dotson resigned his post in 2016 to spend more time with his family. He won three district tournament championships and four region championships. His teams made four TSSAA state tournaments and finished in the top four twice during his eight years at the helm.


PREVIOUSLY REPORTED

Former Siegel High School boys basketball coach Ben Dotson is in the ICU at Vanderbilt University Medical Center after a serious crash.

The accident happened last Friday (June 19) at 10:30am on I-840. There aren't many details into the cause of the accident. Friends close to the former coach say he's sedated awaiting surgery.

Dotson, only the second head coach for boys basketball, had much success during his eight-year reign. His teams made four state tournament appearances, including two trips to the final four in 2011 and 2013. His teams also won three district and region championships.

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