.png){kind=logo}
The Washington Football Team recorded a real Any Given Sunday victory vs the reigning Superbowl Champions Tampa Bay.
This impressive 29-19 win, however, came at a significant cost. Although the game itself was a bruising encounter, with both Ricky Seals-Jones and Terry McLaurin exiting with hard knocks (Scary Terry came back, of course), it was a non-contact knee injury to DE Chase Young that has likely resulted in the diagnosis of a torn ACL.
UKHTTW is always active on Twitter during game day and entered into a conversation with Nicholas DiNubile, MD, an Orthopaedic Surgeon specializing in Sports Medicine.
We were delighted that the Dr took time out to answer a few broad questions about such an injury to one of the NFLs bright young defensive ends.
Nicholas DiNubile, MD, the injury was non-contact. Is that a better or worse sign for the extent of injury?
Most ACL tears are non-contact.
With contact, other ligaments are sometimes involved. Either way, it is a bad injury. Most individuals who tear their ACL also tear one or even both menisci (fixed thru the arthroscope at the same time the ACL is being replaced) and some have damage to the joint cushion or articular cartilage (which could cause problems and arthritis down the line).
A torn ACL sounds a bad injury for any NFL player. Is it particularly worrying injury for a pass rushing DE?
ACL tears are not good for any professional athlete, but slightly more challenging for agility positions that require sudden stop/start, cutting and rapid change in direction.
Obviously, details are not fully out, but is surgery a pretty much secured success with so much skill & technology in 2021?
ACL surgery is highly successful with our modern technology and techniques.
Most of the work is done through the arthroscope and with minimally invasive surgical techniques as an outpatient. When I perform ACL reconstruction surgery, patients walk out that day putting weight on their operated leg (using crutches to help for the first few days or a week) and they start exercise and physical therapy almost instantly.
The knee feel pretty good in a few weeks but the new ACL takes 6+ months to mature in the body and become anchored and strong enough to withstand high forces of sport. That is why it is recommended that most players now wait 9 months before returning to sport and only if they have passed a gradual progressive program of strength, endurance, agility and more.
Most players return to full play (usually in a brace for the 1st season back). What was once a career ending injury, is now a only a season ending injury.
At just 22 years old and a real physical specimen, would you expect Young to heal well and be able to rehab to his full potential?
Yes indeed! Barring any complications (which are quite rare), he'll be back strong. So many great players have come back fully from ACL surgery, including the very player Chase was going after when he injured his knee, Tom Brady.
Lastly, this is a bit on the spot, but is Week 1 for 2022 realistic?
It is realistic but he will need to work hard, and he no doubt will.
Nicholas DiNubile, MD is the best-selling author of the FrameWork series of health & wellness books. You can follow on Twitter @DrNickUSA and the website http://DrNick.com
Comments