10-23-08 Will Carroll, Football Outsiders

If most of you are like me you -- and that your Boston Herald this morning I got mine at the end of my driveway and got a little sick feeling in the pit in my stomach when -- I saw on the back page of The Herald. Headline of more Brady surgery. Quarterback has to additional procedures. For knee infection now. I'm not a medical person I don't understand much about this whenever we have questions about sports medicine this is the place we usually go to get some answers. His name is will Carroll one of the top sports injury in sports medicine people in the country -- Salem Michael again.

To a great guys that you know -- pretty durable. Blogs that. State inspection it's something we're hearing more and more about is unfortunately. It's work work on the staff infection which meant that it went in apple -- Oreo or --

Wash out your -- there who'd you talk about that before the shelves disorienting.

That's what we're seeing here and inspection get in. And and it can be bad. I mean we met some really significant interest but unfortunate bad infection more and more common. Not just -- work not just football but like in general for the watching this closely there having to deal with the -- and unfortunately. That's what happened number.

Is it normal to have so many procedures they'll after the initial procedure. I asked Tom Brady don't.

Let's be clear about what the procedure mean have a -- you know pretty. Open up and leaving after take the graft in this case. We get learned that Tom Brady at the graft from himself with a bow part is the talent and then replaced whereas the you know the -- was. And locked in the play a lot -- issue which just as strong. Homer of the guys that but in this case and we have that can averaged issue which is actually. Did issue that was would be where the inspection would go with those. So this is something newspaper. That was secondary procedures we look in the -- washing things out it's the equivalent of about the most minor arthroscopic surgery. Certainly you'd rather not have but it mostly. It's like giving up big -- injected in him watching. If they hit the type procedure. That Peyton Manning had with it literally we opened the knee and had been great to be -- off the ball.

I want to ask you and that's what it said to me that the patella. Tendon graft that procedure. Was a little outdated and that the cadaver -- is the better way to don't know what you just said it seemed to contradict that you believe that. It's better to use the cadaver --

Well I mean battery is a relative term meaning that -- it was so lucky that they didn't use the cadaver draft -- it would have been in attacked by the action. Would've made it more likely that they have to win and place. Now it's still possible. It's in the arc where the fixated they're going to have to go with it in to it to the -- they're going to. Go back in there and do it but -- and so. Have a way to couple wants to be that. And -- He pushed into the 2000 season but it's still possible remember that -- Rivers had a similar procedure he had the the and then -- In this anytime certainly been pretty darn good this season. Doctors are going 11 way or the other they and they have a procedure and wave they'd go with that he. You know surgery. I think because Tom Brady still help the committed and -- were so strong probably the way -- trust decided again.

I was going to ask you about and you party told me the you know how to pronounce his name because I don't. I I've obviously heard of the curling Jobe clinic. I've never heard of doctor Neil -- trash have you.

Of the top guys in the world actually. I've met him about five years ago on a -- with -- entry -- Jim Andrews and I'm going to try to -- we have I have. -- any time I have an issue where I have a question. My first call -- mile -- I think that's about as good a recommendation. Yet -- the we you -- with the Rams and with the team doctor for the Dodgers. The head of sports medicine for the early Jobe clinic which is one of the two best in the world. So the idea that this is some. -- he personal doctor Tom Brady shows that the yellow pages.

Without getting too gruesome here -- I don't understand all the details but there's there's hardware. Inside that -- now that wasn't their screws for instant. And and that's what you were talking about if if infection got in around the site where the screws are -- are holding things in place that's where -- and the possibility of having to do it over again.

Yeah exactly if if so be it actually kind of cute in that medal -- starts to. Deep down where it's screwed in. You have to take it out have to put him in -- would have to clean up that area a lot of until after. -- in the a little bit over just to make sure you don't we -- So that that's what he'd never want to see happen. It's not horrible. You would certainly rather not have happened but again it's only going to reset the clock. Not be a major setback. We're looking at 68 on her for eight you know. It in the rehab so again be at this is -- February he would still be on track where return intrigued.

just to be clear you don't think that there's a possibility. That Tom Brady will have to go back to that to the starting blocks. And in just get this whole procedure done over again.

Well if possible we we don't know whether they can clean up that inspection whether it will have to be done but these procedures that they've done -- the searcher errors. Completely directed would clear up in. He -- that he's healthy and hopefully making sure that he doesn't have to have a lead. Can't say we just don't know whether have to have that in fact the doctor. Everything possible sure who would that possibility.

We were trying earlier it to come up with names of quarterbacks who've had similar procedures done. And have returned to play at a very high level after that can you help us out without.

it with eight PL are having I have ever read on.

now the the ACL procedure that Brady said.

Oh they're -- this year alone we've had Phillip Rivers. -- homer and a similar one. Topic Culpepper had had a much more expensive one was never able to come back.

What good examples that I had.

Yeah luckily there are a lot of people like that of their of their lack all the quarterbacks then patted actually. With the who Dennis Dixon of Oregon last year played a part of that -- without is -- EL. If it's. Easier and easier surgery you know a lot of people go back and they until they met. I particularly and it didn't 120 yelled back and they actually just had a torn meniscus. And -- He had a giant -- inch -- immediately how far we've. The surgery that individual game career. We put up about.

Yeah and I always wonder Bobby -- heck he might still be plain and he hadn't had all those wide open knee surgeries he had.

It's exactly I mean is that technology. Just after five years things have changed. So much unfortunately with those changes we've also -- coming up like this month it which is going or probably any at that. Kellen Winslow has that now it. It's it's a tough situation the teams are going to have to deal with one more often works.

So the six week IV antibiotic procedure that he's undergoing right now that's all normal as well that's what you do to handle this.

Well I'm not a doctor C -- prescribing anything like that but deficit you know. Good example here's Peyton -- on the same exact thing for similar. He added infected persons back that got into the own. The thing he's been able to come back. What a question about high level during the first couple weeks when the Colts were hiding that promised he certainly was able lately effectively. And now looks like he's beyond.

I think probably the issue were all having here. And technically I guess the term is correct that Brady has had three more surgical procedures since the initial operation. But as you say they're not really surgical procedures the way we think of them.

Yeah it they're not opening him up but he act honestly you could say that he's having in the Italy. Because that's what what are the open like you know is basically like getting poked by right stick and I realised hopefully nobody out there -- radio landed at that -- But you're going to have a small are -- Easter -- a year ago and I'm if you look at my Indians honestly I didn't know exactly where the artwork you wouldn't get on.

Well we appreciate it on a number of levels one you gave us good information between made me feel better today. Thanks well okay we'll take care that is -- will Carroll he writes a column called under the knife he's considered in the top. Sports sports injury people out there in the country.