By Loren Colon DPM, FACFAS

The Maize and Blue are back in the final four after a 20 year hiatus. As a University of Michigan alumnus, I cannot be prouder of this young group of Michigan Wolverines and how they have grown up over the last two weeks. The NCAA tournament is about peaking at just the right time. That is what Michigan is doing. However, after Michigan’s big win (Go Blue!), the most intriguing thing about the weekend was the Louisville Cardinals gutsy performance after watching their teammate, Kevin Ware, go down.

If you ever thought that you could not get a serious injury without any contact or collision with another player, think again. Kevin Ware, a shooting guard for the University of Louisville basketball team, suffered a horrific injury yesterday during the Men’s NCAA Tournament Elite Eight game against the Duke Blue Devils. Kevin Ware jumped to block a shot and severely internally rotated his right ankle and leg, resulting in an open tibia fracture that pierced through his skin.

An injury of this nature requires xrays and a CT scan to fully evaluate the extent of the injury. The surgery involves resetting the tibia back into normal anatomical position by means of intermedullary nailing that includes a rod with a series of metal plates and cancellous screws. An open or compound fracture if left untreated after 6-8 hours after the injury occurred can also potentially lead to a serious infection. Immediate broad spectrum IV antibiotics such as clindamycin and ciprofloxacin combo are essential prior to surgical management of this compound right tibia fracture.  A non weight bearing below knee cast for 6-8 weeks after surgery in addition to physical rehabilitation would require approximately 12 months for complete recovery before Kevin Ware returns to playing basketball.

If you have suffered a sports related injury, contact your local podiatric surgeon at American Foot and Leg Specialists.

See the full report about the injury here.