Report: Thunder, Kevin Durant undecided on surgery to repair foot fracture
Kevin Durant is still deciding on surgery. (USATSI)USA Today reports that Kevin Durant and the Thunder haven't decided whether the star forward should have surgery on the Jones fracture in his foot.
The people spoke to USA TODAY Sports on the condition of anonymity because a formal update had not been announced. Thunder general manager Sam Presti said on Sunday that 'traditional treatment' of the injury typically required surgery and that the subsequent recovery time would likely be between six to eight weeks.
He also made it clear that Durant was deliberating the matter with the Thunder's medical personnel and his representatives.
The area where Durant's fracture took place (his fifth metatarsal) has limited blood flow, and - as explained to USA TODAY Sports -- that makes the prospect of recovering without surgery particularly unappealing.
Still, one has to wonder if the 26-year-old Durant is tempted to heal without going under the knife while hoping his youth helps with the healing process. As Durant is surely being told by the medical experts, there are risks that would come from playing through the pain.
via Kevin Durant still not sure of foot fracture treatment.
Hardwood Paroxysm* had a piece from an athletics training student that discussed the potential surgery.
'Although we don't know the exact surgical treatment Durant will undergo, a common procedure involves inserting an intra-medullary screw into the fifth metatarsal to stabilize the bone. The procedure is one that, according to a systematic review done by the journal, Knee Surgery, Sports Traumatology, Arthroscopy, 'is more likely to lead to successful union of all types of Jones fractures compared to non-operative treatments.'
via Kevin Durant has a Jones fracture: So what is a Jones fracture?.
There's a common thought in the literature that the blood flow issue can lead to re-fracture or complications in healing. So whatever reason Durant and the Thunder have for considering going without surgery must be a good one.
* The author of this post is the founder and editor emeritus of Hardwood Paroxysm. He also doesn't know anything about Jones fractures.
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