Thursday, February 9, 2012

Billups Out for Season with Achilles Tear


Chauncey Billups will be forced to sit out the rest of the NBA season with a torn Achilles tendon.  The injury came in Monday night’s game against the Orlando Magic, as Billups’ Clippers went on to beat the Magic 107-102 in overtime.  Billups, who is 35 years old, reports that he had not previously had any pain in his Achilles tendon.  The tear, however, was confirmed with MRI on Tuesday.  Billups will undergo surgery to repair to torn tendon, and promises to return to the league.

Achillles tendon tears can often occur just like they have to Chauncey Billups, with no real history of pain in the area.  However, what is common in Achilles tendon tears is that there is degenerative disease in the tendon that precedes the tear.  This degenerative disease is usually appreciated in the operating room under direct visualization when the tendon is repaired, even when the MRI reads the tendon as normal.  This is because the changes can often be too subtle to pick up MRI.  The degenerative condition is referred to as tendinosis of the Achilles tendon, and when there is an acute incident of pain without a rupture, it is called tendinitis.

Surgical repair of Achilles tendon tears and ruptures involves cleaning up the ends of the tendon and removing any scar tissue that may be present in the tendon.  A more normal shape and appearance of the tendon is achieved using strong sutures to and strength to the tendon as it heals.  Post-operatively, the patient is placed in a cast and remains non-weight bearing for several weeks.  Following removal of the cast, aggressive physical therapy is initiated for rehabilitation.  The timeline for complete healing of the surgical site is usually between three and six months, and a return to full strength may come after complete healing has occurred.  In a professional athlete such as Chauncey Billups’ case, this usually means the season ends early. 

Billups, a five-time NBA All-Star, will certainly be missed on the court.  He is considered one of the strongest leaders in the league, and has a way of boosting team morale both on and off the court.  He was picked up by the Los Angeles Clippers from the New York Knicks, and has become a key role in the team’s ascent to the top of the Western Conference.  They are in serious contention for the championship this year, in part due to Chauncey Billups.  Hopefully he will be back on the sidelines soon, his presence giving the Clippers motivation to win. 
  


Central Florida Foot and Ankle Center, LLC. 
101 6TH St. NW. 
Winter Haven, Fl. 33881 
863-299-4551 
www.FLFootandAnkle.com

1 comment:

Unknown said...

Great take on something we hear about often but don't always fully understand. You never hear of minor Achlles Tear, just season ending and career ending. As painful as the injury sounds, the long recovery is what I would find the toughest.

Central Florida Foot and Ankle Center