Philadelphia 76ers superstar Joel Embiid to undergo knee surgery

Philadelphia 76ers superstar Joel Embiid to undergo knee surgery

THE DIRECTOR OF SPORTS MEDICINE AT JEFFERSON 3B ORTHOPEDICS. HE HAS TREATED WORLD CLASS ATHLETES IN EVERY SPORT AND IS AN EXPERT IN THIS TYPE OF INJURY AND IN HIS FIELD. HE JOINS US NOW LIVE FROM HIS CENTER CITY OFFICE. GOOD MORNING TO YOU, DOCTOR. >> GOOD MORNING. PLEASURE TO BE WITH.

>> Natasha: THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR BEING WITH US. NOW THE SIXERS AREN’T SAYING A WHOLE LOT AT THIS POINT, ONLY THAT EMBIID IS GOING TO HAVE TO HAVE THIS PROCEDURE TO FIX A DISPLACED MENISCUS IN HIS LEFT KNEE. SO CAN YOU FIRST START BY EXPLAINING FOR ALL OF US WHAT IS

THE MENISCUS AND HOW DOES IT GET INJURED? >> VERY BRIEFLY IT’S ONE OF THE MOST COMMON INJURIES IN THE KNEE, AND IF THIS IS THE KNEE MODEL THAT WE SEE, IF YOU BRING DOWN THE KNEECAP, THEN WE CAN SEE THAT THERE’S A FEMUR BONE AND THE TIBIA BONE IN BETWEEN

THAT ARE SOME LITTLE WASH SCHERS, IF YOU WILL, AND THOSE LITTLE WASH SCHERS ARE SOFT CARTILAGE. SO THE SOFT CARTILAGE IS CALLED THE MENISCUS, ANDS IT’S VERY EASY TO TEAR THEM WITH ANY TWISTING OR JUMPING OR LANDING AS YOU SAW THAT INJURY OCCUR MAYBE WITH THE LANDING AND THEN THERE’S ANOTHER TYPE OF

CARTILAGE CALLED THE ARTICULAR CARTILAGE WHICH CAN ALSO BE INJURED AS THIS SOFT CARTILAGE GETS TORN. SO I UNDERSTAND THAT HE HAS A FLAP TEAR WHICH IS SIMPLY IF YOU WILL A FLAP OF THIS PEACE GETS CAUGHT IN BETWEEN THE BONES AND CAN CAUSE SYMPTOMS LIKE CATCHING, LOCKING, SHARP PAIN,

SWELLING, BUT WORSE, IT CAN DAMAGE THE ARTICULAR CARTILAGE WHICH IS THE END OF THE THIGH BONE OR THE TOP OF THE LEG BONE AND THAT CREATES A MORE COMPLICATED SCENARIO. >> Natasha: I KNOW IT’S HARD TO KNOW EXACTLY WHAT’S GOING ON WITHOUT EXAMINING EMBIID. AS ONE OF THE TOP DOCTORS IN THE

FIELD HERE, IS THIS SOMETHING THAT WILL TAKE WEEKS OR MONTHS TO RECOVER FROM OR TELL US ABOUT THE RECOVERY PROCESS USUALLY? >> USUALLY RECOVERY IS ABOUT FOUR TO SIX WEEKS. SOMETIMES IT CAN BE EIGHT. DEPENDS HOW MUCH SWELLING REMAINS AFTER THE SURGERY. AND THE BIGGEST PART ABOUT THE RECOVERY WOULD BE THE CONDITION

OF THE ARTICULAR SURFACE NOT AS MUCH THE MENISCUS. THE MENISCUS IS EASY TO TEAR AND EASY TORE TEAR. SO THESE INJURIES ONCE THEY HAPPEN THE MENISCUS MATERIAL IS TENDER ARRIVED AND CAN OCCUR AGAIN. THE USUAL RECOVERY TIME IS SIX TO EIGHT WEEKS AT SOMEONE AT HIS CAPACITY PLAYING HIS SPORT.

>> Natasha: THE PLAYOFFS BEGIN IN TWO MONTHS OR SO THAT’S WHY THE TIMETABLE I GUESS IS MOST IMPORTANT. HE MIGHT BE RIGHT THERE. IS THAT RIGHT? >> YEAH, THAT’S CORRECT. YOU KNOW, THE CRITICAL THING WOULD BE TO MAKE SURE HE STAYS FIT. KEEPS HIS FITNESS BECAUSE YOU LOSE THAT VERY QUICKLY WHEN YOU

TAKE A WEEK OFF, JUST A WEEK, IT TAKES WEEKS TO RECOVER. SO I’M SURE THEY’LL BE ON TOP OF THAT AS WELL. >> Natasha: ALL RIGHT. DOCTOR BARTOLOZZI, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THAT DETAILED AND VERY — GREAT EXPLANATION FOR US WHO DON’T KNOW ALL THE DETAILS

Dr. Arthur Bartolozzi joined CBS News Philadelphia to discuss Sixers superstar Joel Embiid’s knee injury.