Bynum Having Arthroscopic Surgery

[Mr.Bottomtooth]

Bynum to have arthroscopic surgery on injured left knee
Associated Press
Updated: May 18, 2008, 4:53 PM ET

EL SEGUNDO, Calif. -- More than four months after Andrew Bynum injured his left knee, it's been decided the Los Angeles Lakers center will undergo arthroscopic surgery.

The Lakers made the announcement Sunday, saying Dr. David Altchek will perform the procedure in New York on Wednesday -- the same day Bynum's team entertains San Antonio or New Orleans to begin the Western Conference finals.

An estimated timetable for Bynum's return will be provided following the surgery.

"I just hope for the best for him," teammate Luke Walton said following a light practice Sunday. "He was a huge part of our success early on and he's going to be a huge part of our future."

The Lakers said the procedure will entail a cleanup of some rough spots and fraying on the underside of Bynum's kneecap.

Bynum hasn't played since injuring his knee in the third quarter of a 100-99 victory over Memphis on Jan. 13 at Staples Center. The 20-year-old center averaged 13.1 points, 10.2 rebounds and 2.1 blocked shots in 35 games.

The Lakers estimated a day after Bynum was injured that he would be sidelined eight to 12 weeks. But coach Phil Jackson said April 21 that a return this season was remote, and Bynum said much the same thing shortly thereafter.

Dr. Altchek examined Bynum in New York on April 10 and declined to clear him for practice. The 7-footer was examined again May 7 in Princeton, N.J., by Dr. Steven Gecha, who said there had been some improvement in the knee, but recommended exploratory surgery if there wasn't more in the ensuing three to four weeks.

The decision was made a lot sooner than that.

"It's hard, I know that he is probably really frustrated right now," Lakers guard Sasha Vujacic said. "He's going through tough times. We miss him. Everybody knows he's going to have a good, long career in the NBA. He'll come back when he's ready."

Despite Bynum's absence, the Lakers went 57-25 to earn the top seed in the West, and 8-2 to eliminate Denver and Utah from the playoffs to reach the conference finals for the first time since 2004.

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=3402124

[TampaDude]

Yup...no more Bynum for the Lakers this year...

[Bruno]

Let's hope for him, it doesn't end up with a micro fracture surgery.

[Dopey310]

Why? Spurs fans should hope it is micro. I mean weren't you guys cheering when West went down? Doesn't really matter, Lakers could take the Spurs without him.

[DazedAndConfused]

I feel for the kid. Initial diagnosis wasn't too bad, and we all thought he'd be back at some point this season. Unfortunately he suffered some setbacks during rehab and he just hasn't been able to get the pain in his knee to stop when performing hard cuts and lateral movements. At least now they can figure out what the hell is wrong with his knee and go from there.

And LMAO at Spurs fans faking sympathy for the kid.

[GuerillaBlack]

They are doing that because they know he won't be back.

[N4th4n]

he just hasn't been able to get the pain in his knee to stop when performing hard cuts and lateral movements. At least now they can figure out what the hell is wrong with his knee and go from there.



From the sound of this Laker fans should be afraid of micro fracture.

Sounds alot like what Amare was complaining about before his injury. He went in for a routine scope and ended up with microfracture!

[LakerMagic]

Im pretty worried. I feel like we've been strung along for a few months now. I didn't expect Bynum to be back for playoffs or be major player in the playoffs if he did because he is out of game shape, but damn this sucks.

[tlongII]

From the sound of this Laker fans should be afraid of micro fracture.

Sounds alot like what Amare was complaining about before his injury. He went in for a routine scope and ended up with microfracture!

Same thing happened with Oden.

[DazedAndConfused]

Microfracture........good god I hope not.

[J.T.]

Bynum requiring a microfracture surgery would almost be poetic justice for the Lakers getting Gasol for $20 and a pack of Marlboros. The key word is almost. The real poetic justice will come when Gasol folds like a lawn chair in the WCF.

[LakerMagic]

Bynum requiring a microfracture surgery would almost be poetic justice for the Lakers getting Gasol for $20 and a pack of Marlboros. The key word is almost. The real poetic justice will come when Gasol folds like a lawn chair in the WCF.

Fag.

[DazedAndConfused]

Bynum requiring a microfracture surgery would almost be poetic justice for the Lakers getting Gasol for $20 and a pack of Marlboros. The key word is almost. The real poetic justice will come when Gasol folds like a lawn chair in the WCF.

Wow you are one messed up human being.

[SpursFan0728]

Why? Spurs fans should hope it is micro. I mean weren't you guys cheering when West went down? Doesn't really matter, Lakers could take the Spurs without him.

Not everyone was CHEERING when West went down. I am sure many of them were just cheering for Horry for his hysteric night and his hard foul.

I know you are a Heat fan but you gotta show some love for this game man

[Banzai]

Wow you are one jealous human being.

fixed

[Tradition]

Bynum requiring a microfracture surgery would almost be poetic justice for the Lakers getting Gasol for $20 and a pack of Marlboros. The key word is almost. The real poetic justice will come when Gasol folds like a lawn chair in the WCF.

Against the Hornets?

Kiddo, unless the Spurs bring a pair with them to New Orleans, they arent winning game 7. The Spurs literally have shown me zero indication of them all of a sudden winning there. Lakers have been the most impressive team of the playoffs so far. They ended Utah's season at home. That says alot about this team.

You need to hope your team can even contend in that voodoo infested place before spewing crap about the Lakers. If the spurs do indeed lose tomorrow, I am going to be laugh at you for insulting Bynum like that. It is okay to be a jealous prick but you dont need to cross lines like that to show it. VINNIE JOHNSON indirectly shows his hate/jealousy of the Lakers in a much smoother way.

[DazedAndConfused]

Chances are he just has chondromalacia (which is the most common cause for knee pain for athletes---by far) and the scope surgery will be to smooth out the cartilage and clean up cartilage fragments in and around the knee (cartilage fragments in the knee are what makes athletes most susceptible to subluxations in the knee). 99% sure this is all it will be. Chondromalacia generally can be treated without surgery, but there is always a small percentage of people (Bynum) who need a scope surgery to clean things up because they aren't healing at a typical rate.

I do remember Phil saying he has chondromalacia in an interview a few weeks back. Hopefully they are just being super safe with Bynum and making sure his knee is as good as possible before they bring him back. He's got 4 1/2 months to get better.

[Bob Lanier]

Same thing happened with Oden.
Yes, but Bynum's managed to go through rehab for his first surgery without ballooning to Shaq proportions.

[mojorizen7]

Shocker.

[J Zone]

Kind of expected this considering how long he's been out. Let's just hope they don't find anything too serious.

[KidCongo]

Same thing happened with Oden.

couch dynasty?

[ElNono]

Somebody fucked up with this kid. Either the doctor, himself during rehab, or somewhere in between. It would be nice to know who was at fault. Did they switched doctors or specialists since he got injured?

[Bob Lanier]

Did they switched doctors or specialists since he got injured?
Yes. The initial treatment was by the team's doctor in L.A.; this second surgery is from a specialist Bynum sought out himself in New York.

[Gino]

I was gonna yell "MICRO-FRACTURE" but everyone else already did.

[DazedAndConfused]

FYI Kobe had this same procedure done to his knees twice already.

[DazedAndConfused]

why is that every time a "Spurs fan" wishes well for someone on the Lakers it's fake sympathy? Are you that fickle that you really think everyone wishes harm on Laker players? Get yourself you jackass!

Considering your fans chanted "HORRY, HORRY, HORRY" when David West was on the floor writhing in pain excuse me for not giving you the benefit of the doubt.