foreverfan

Sharper underwent microfracture surgery
Sharper underwent microfracture surgery | ProFootballTalk.com

Posted by Gregg Rosenthal on May 3, 2010 7:02 PM ET
Here's another reason why you should never believe anyone that says an offseason surgery is "minor."

Safety Darren Sharper underwent microfracture surgery in February according to ESPN's Adam Schefter.

Microfracture surgeries have become more common in recent years and there are varying degrees of severity, but it's still a far more serious procedure than the arthroscopic knee surgery that was originally reported.

It's unclear when Sharper will be ready again for football activities, but this helps explain why he didn't get a long-term deal.

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Did anybody else here this? No wonder nobody signed him to a long term deal. This is serious. Can Sharper get on the field this year and be the same player he was? Microfracture surgeries are hard enough to come back from but Bush and Vilma did it. Still at Sharper's age, he could no doubt loose a step. I have to think that Jenkins will be moved to FS asap and Sharper will be kept this year to help mentor him. Sharper will play some but I don't look for him to be the player he was in years past.

2019 Death of a Parrot.

foreverfan

Recovery

Current studies have shown a success rate of 75 to 80 percent among patients 45 years of age or younger, even among professional athletes With the help of physical therapy, patients can often return to sports (or other intense activities) in about four months. However, this is a best-case scenario and depends on the severity of the cartilage damage (and any other conditions existing in the knee).

Normal patients and professional athletes who play at the highest level however are quite different, as Chris Webber, who underwent the surgery, has stated that a full recovery in four months is nearly impossible. Webber returned to the NBA eight months after his surgery but was never the same.

Microfracture surgery itself is relatively minor. It is an outpatient procedure and causes only small discomfort. The harder part is the restrictions that are placed on the patient during the post-operative recovery period. This can be a major challenge for many patients.

For optimal re-growth of joint surface, the patients need to be very patient and also extremely cooperative. They usually need to be on crutches for four to six weeks (sometimes longer). Sometimes a brace is needed. This all depends on the size and/or location of the joint surface defect that is being repaired or regenerated. The patients are encouraged to spend approximately 6–8 hours a day on a CPM (Continuous Passive Motion) machine that helps with optimal re-growth of joint surface.

Patients usually feel pretty good and think they can avoid these critically important steps, and even start running and jumping (or playing sports) before the internal aspects of the knee, and the joint surface, are ready.

2019 Death of a Parrot.

niteadept

We knew there was a reason that Sharper was not being picked up by someone else and why the front office was dragging their feet. Here's to keeping our fingers crossed and Sharper coming back strong!

realheavyd

I would imagine that D-Sharp is probably a model patient who is very much on top of his rehab program as we speak and, hopefully, right on schedule to make that 4-5 month physical therapy recovery time period to bring him back to full health just in time for hitting the field at Saints 2010 training camp this July.

We shall see in just over 2 months from now if I am right in this presumption of mine or not, huh?

SaintPauly

Who did the surgery? Dr. Andrews? That guy is a freaking miracle worker. After the work he did on Brees, I wouldn't be surprised if D-Sharp is faster now, than he was before. I'm thinking bionic implants of some kind....

Crusader

Last season I had micro fracture surgery in June and played again in the middle of August. That might have been a little quick back and I had a minor discomfort then but am all fine now. I have no doubt that he will be healthy and fulll go by training camp.