| pauldrulez |
23-10-2008 04:43 PM |
Some places reporting this as Brady out for 2009 as well. :rolleyes:
Quote:
FOXBORO - Doctors are so concerned about containing the infection in Tom Brady [stats]’s left knee they have performed three procedures in an attempt to eradicate it, according to a source familiar with the Patriots [team stats] quarterback’s travails on the West Coast.
While Brady acknowledged on his Web site that he had one arthroscopic procedure done to “clean and to test the wound” last Wednesday, the Herald has learned there have been two additional procedures performed since that time, with the same goal in mind.
According to the source, the fear is the patellar tendon graft used to replace Brady’s anterior cruciate ligament is in danger of becoming compromised. Should that occur, the entire ACL reconstruction would have to be removed and redone from scratch.
That would push back his rehab and recovery period, which in turn, could delay his return to the field.
Brady had the initial surgery performed by Dr. Neal ElAttrache on Oct. 6 at the Kerlan-Jobe Orthopaedic Clinic in Los Angeles, where he is still being seen for the follow-up procedures.
The QB wrote on tombrady.com that “the infection is very treatable and, through a course of antibiotics, it will be knocked out of my system.” Brady referred to the second procedure as being “proactive,” on the part of the doctors, and that the results have been positive.
However, with the additional procedures performed to flush out and irrigate the joint, and continued biopsies taken, either there are still signs of infection or his doctor is being overly cautious with the reigning NFL MVP, who injured the knee in the Pats’ season opener against Kansas City after being hit by safety Bernard Pollard. Brady tore both his anterior cruciate and medial collateral ligaments.
Dr. Arun Ramappa, chief of sports medicine at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, told the Herald last week infections after knee surgery are rare. When apprised of the three procedures on Brady, Ramappa, who does not have direct knowledge of the quarterback’s injury, provided a broad assessment.
“Often, if you’re concerned about an infection, you clean the knee out as many times as it needs to be cleaned out,” Ramappa said. “We clean it out until we think it’s adequate. Ideally, you don’t want an infection at all, or any repeat surgeries. They may be being cautious, it’s hard to know. There could be a residual infection, or they’re doing everything they possibly can to make sure the infection is gone.”
Brady is on a course of IV antibiotics, which he will continue for a six-week period, according to the source.
Ramappa agreed a repeat surgery may be needed if the graft was deemed to be compromised or infected.
“That’s a very rare scenario, but it’s a possibility,” he said. “In all likelihood, they’ll be able to eradicate the infection, and be able to maintain the original surgery. What it sounds like, is they’re doing everything they can to try to preserve his knee, preserve the graft, so they don’t have to do another surgery. If he’s had three surgeries, they must be quite concerned about there being an infection.”
Ramappa believes Brady’s just had “really bad luck,” with the initial surgery.
“The less knee surgery you have, the better, but he’s a tremendous athlete,” Ramappa said. “As long as the graft is OK and the infection is gone, he should be able to come back just fine. This will just be a blip on the screen.”
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I would say the bold part is the most important. |
