PITTSBURGH — Stephen Strasburg had Tommy John surgery on his right elbow today in Los Angeles, and according to Nationals general manager Mike Rizzo the rookie pitcher came out of the procedure "with flying colors.""It went smooth and uneventful," Rizzo said before the Nats' game against the Pirates.
Orthopedist Lewis Yocum performed the ligament replacement surgery, with assistance from Nationals team doctor Wiemi Douoguih. The procedure, in which the torn ulnar collateral ligament in Strasburg's right elbow was replaced by a tendon from his leg, took approximately three hours to complete.
Strasburg will remain in the Los Angeles hospital overnight, then will return to his home in San Diego, where he will immediately begin physical therapy at the nearby Scripps Clinic.
Strasburg won't be allowed to resume throwing a ball for about four months, at which point he'll report to the Nats' spring training complex in Viera, Fla. Full recovery from the surgery is expected to take between 12 and 18 months.
10 comments:
... as much as this report leads on to maybe eighteen months without "The Arm", it is ultimately good news on this day when we've focussed on Morgan and Dibble. Of we did take a good look at Danny E. and Wilson R. so along with this news about Stras, I feel good about the Nats today.
Go Nats!!
4 months until he throws a ball? He needs to suck it up and get back there on the mound tonight!
Poster at 6:10....so not funny on any level.
Sending lots of good energy toward SS and his family, and the Nats family.
Lighten up JaneB, the guy posting as Rob Dibble was making fun of Rob, not the SS situation. Jeez, what is up with people these days. By the way, 6:10, I got a good chuckle out of your post. Wish I had thought of that.
Encouraging news!!!!!!!!!
Rootin for ya Steven......you'll be back just like Zimmerman, good as new!
NatsFanTom -- I knew he was making fun of Rob...who is at one of the lowest points of his life right now. Not fair.
Lowest point in his career? I doubt it. Blowing out his arm twice in 94 and 96 to end his career takes the cake. He's still making a lot of money doing his XM radio show, so I don't think he's lost much sleep over all this.
Regarding Strasburg, I'm glad to hear the surgery went well. Hopefully, we'll get to see him pitch a few innings next September!
Found this video on youtube...
Gives a nice synopsis of the TJ surgery in pretty plain language. They even show a picture (drawn, not real life) of how they attach the tendon).
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ak7UBS2HLuo&feature=related
I wonder what happens to the place they take the tendon from. Does the body not need the tendon in its original place? Do you lose some functionality when you take the tendon out?
Post a Comment