McKinnon was left with two fractured vertebrae in his neck after landing on his head in a tackle in a National Rugby League match on Monday.
“He’s been in an induced coma just to help with the recovery from the surgery and to make sure there is no movement there,” Knights CEO Matt Gidley told News Ltd media.
“The scans showed the spinal cord was not cut but they are still determining what damage might have been done there. It’s just a real anxious time at the moment.”
The club issued a statement late on Tuesday that said the ginger-haired 22-year-old had earlier had emergency surgery to stabilise his neck.
It said he had undergone additional scans which confirmed a “devastating” spinal injury and that the player might need additional surgery.
Despite the gloomy prognosis, McKinnon, who represented Australia at junior level, had movement in his right arm.
“The doctors explained regeneration and recovery could be up to two years,” the statement said.
The Melbourne Storm tacklers – Jordan McLean and brothers Kenny and Jesse Bromwich – were put on report after the incident.
McLean had been stood down for this weekend’s match against the Bulldogs in Perth and referred to a judiciary panel for a “dangerous throw” tackle, but the NRL had decided to defer the hearing out of respect for McKinnon and his family.
Rugby League - Knights forward McKinnon placed in induced coma
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