Category Archives: Basketball

All Blogs, Basketball, Other

Joel Embiid’s Orbital Bone Fracture

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Philadelphia 76ers All-star Joel Embiid fractured his eye socket (orbital bone) on March 28th after colliding with teammate Markelle Fultz lunging for a loose basketball. Embiid had no signs of concussion in the locker room, but was diagnosed with a concussion at the hospital. A CT scan identified the orbital fracture around his left eye.

The 76ers announced that Embiid will have surgery within a few days. That suggests that the bone is far enough out of place to benefit from surgery.

A common misconception is that surgery is necessary or that it helps bones heal more quickly. Bones take equal time to get to full strength with or without surgery. The use of metal implants is usually done for better alignment and for some bones that are less likely to heal without surgery.

Athletes are often willing to accept the risks of reinjury, returning prior to complete healing. Some athletes wear a mask to attempt to reduce the risk of reinjury while the bone is still healing and vulnerable. It was stated that Embiid will miss 2 to 4 weeks and could be available for the playoffs.

This article was made by Paul Bonilla and David Ring

All Blogs, Basketball, Knee

Stephen Curry’s Medial Collateral Ligament Sprain

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Golden State Warriors star point guard Stephen Curry left the game late in the third quarter against the Atlanta Hawks on March 24 after teammate JaVale McGee collapsed on his left leg. Curry hobbled off the court gripping his left knee. Later, the team confirmed a grade two medial collateral ligament (MCL) sprain.

The MCL connects the top of the tibia to the femur in a way that keeps the leg from buckling outward. Spraining (partial or complete tearing) the MCL is common in contact sports such as basketball or football. A grade two sprain means that there is substantial partial tearing (many fibers are torn), but that the ligament is still structurally sound. An MCL injury can be diagnosed on examination. An MRI is not particularly helpful, and the average person would not have an MRI. MRIs seem to be overused among athletes, probably because of the small chance that there is another injury (e.g. to the anterior cruciate ligament or ACL) and the pressure to return to play quickly.

MCL sprains heal without surgery. With partial tears, return to activity is based largely on comfort and risk tolerance. Keeping the knee moving is healthy. Sports places the ligament at risk of worse pathology if there is another injury.

This article was made by Paul Bonilla and David Ring

All Blogs, Ankle/Foot, Basketball

LaMarcus Aldridge’s Ankle Sprain

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San Antonio Spurs All-Star power forward LaMarcus Aldridge left the game against the New Orleans Pelicans Wednesday night after landing awkwardly while attempting to defend Rajon Rondo’s layup attempt in the first quarter of the game. He re-entered the game briefly before exiting with 7 minutes and 39 seconds left in the first half and did not return. The Spurs have announced that Aldridge has a sprained right ankle.

Ankle sprains are one of the most common sports injuries and occurs when the ligaments which support the ankle stretch beyond their limits and tear. There is a range of severity among ankle sprains, depending on how badly the ligaments are torn.

Most sprains are Grade I sprains, where just a few fibers are torn. They can heal with rest and ice. Moderate ankle sprains are known as Grade II sprains, where more of the structure is damaged, but there still some ligament structure intact and the ankle is still stable. A Grade III sprain is a complete tear of the ligament.

Ankle sprains heal naturally over time. It’s not possible to categorize a sprain precisely into one of the three groups. One can get a sense of the severity of the sprain based on the amount of tenderness, swelling and bruising. A complete tear is diagnosed based on the ankle being loose on exam.

If part of the ligament is intact, it’s safe and even healthy to put weight on it and external support such as a brace, boot or cast is mostly for comfort. Sprains are common among basketball players. With the ankle supported by taping or bracing, it is often possible to return when the ankle is still healing and still sore. Given that LaMarcus returned to the game, it must be a relatively mild sprain that they tried to support.

According to league sources, there is no timetable for Aldridge’s return. If it’s just the ligaments and they are mostly intact, he can resume play when he is comfortable and mobile enough to be effective. Since return to play risks re-injury and could delay recovery, one strategy would be to keep him out of competition until a more advanced stage of healing, in preparation for the playoffs, for instance.

This article was made by Hunter McConnie and David Ring