Quote:Dakota is correct. You have to wait at until at least the end of this week or next for swelling to decrease for the best MRI. This will be very important to look for "hidden" fractures that are not seen immediately, and to better look at the ligaments. The lower leg is notorious for having hidden fractures due to the tramautic forces. 

 

For surgery, it depends on how "displaced" the fracture is and on if it can be a stable fracture as JaguarsWoman stated. Displaced means that the edges of the break are not aligned like they need to be to heal correctly. 

 

Having said all that, this is a much better situation than say him having torn a muscle or tendon like Achilles, or him having a foot fracture (like MJD's Lisfranc). As long as he goes through the rehab appropriately, and does not have Gronkowski-like bad luck, he should return just like before, but with more strength since he will have time to just add to his frame and get stronger and more fit.

You explained a displaced fracture better than I did. Whether it needs surgery or not sometimes depends on which bone broke. I did not need surgery because they were in my left arm, but a collarbone can't be set the same way.

 

Why is this injury less severe than MJD's left foot? He said he might need surgery and definitely will be out for the year. Everyone expected MJD to play again in 2012.

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