Kellen Winslow II has had
microfracture knee surgery to regenerate cartilage in his knee this off-season. Since the ACL surgery in 2005, Winslow has
been having trouble with his knee with scar tissue and infections. Now because
of the wear the injury has put on his knee his cartilage in his knee has
deteriorated. Last year he was on the
injury reports every week, and I would imagine he was in quite a bit of pain. The
meniscus acts as a cushion or shock absorber.
It also helps keep the knee stable as a surface the knee can bend on, so
the bone is not rubbing on bone.
The Akron Beacon
Journal describes the microfracture surgery pretty well. This type of
surgery is not the quick fix arthroscopic surgery that most athletes get to
clean out the knee; Winslow has already had that surgery.
For the microfracture surgery, the surgeon
will take the scope but will use it along with a drill to drill holes in the
bone causing microfractures in the femur.
This is done to make the area bleed. With the blood supply in the area
this is in theory supposed to bring nutrients to the damaged area for healing.
Basically scar tissue is formed to regenerate new cartilage. Healing cartilage is not like healing
strains. It takes a lot more time for the tissue to form.
The theory is solid, but it’s not
as effective as we would like to hope. As reported in the article, this is the
same surgery that DeShaun Foster, Courtney
Brown and Terrell Davis
have had in the past. With the
exception of Foster, who is still active, it really has not helped the athletes
return to top form . Winslow is young, early in his career and had the surgery
before his knee got to be much worse. Only time and rehab will tell now if it
will help Winslow.
Winslow is not
supposed to engage in any athletic activity for four months, which will really effect
the shape he is in. However, it is extremely important that he takes the full
time to heal. If he doesn’t or the surgery fails, look for him to have
continuing knee problems much like Dominick Davis-Williams this early in his
career.
