Grey's Anatomy Mega Buzz: Meredith's Attack Leads to "Long-Term" Injuries

How much trauma can Meredith Grey take?

Meredith (Ellen Pompeo) has been through a lot over the course of 12 seasons on Grey's Anatomy, to put it mildly, but the injuries she suffers in Thursday's midseason premiere, after being attacked by a patient at the hospital, may change her life forever.

"The attack itself is shocking. It's quite brutal, and the damage is extensive," Caterina Scorsone, who plays Meredith's sister-in-law Amelia, tells TVGuide.com. "It's not just a couple bruises. ... It's a pretty long-term situation."

Catch up on all this week's Mega Buzz!

The long-lasting injuries could have an impact on Meredith's standing as head of general surgery at Grey Sloan, not to mention her life as a widowed mother raising three children. And while she's the only target of the attack, its effects are far-reaching. "Meredith is the person who gets attacked, but it does impact everyone quite profoundly because she's such a central person in the constellation of relationships at the hospital," Scorsone says.

What are your theories on Meredith's "long-term situation" after the attack? Share your theories in the comments!

Crave scoop on your favorite TV shows? E-mail questions to mega_scoop@tvguide.comordrop us a line at Twitter.com/TVGuide