Quote:
Originally Posted by Scroopy Noopers
How do you figure? Everything I’ve read about the procedure says that almost everyone has a full recovery. How is it a “good chance” a 24 year old professional athlete doesn’t?
|
A while back in another thread I posted a study of athletes who had disk replacement surgery. The study was from 2007 and I am sure that things have changed since then. While the study concluded mostly positive results and most athletes could return to their sport, something like 8% actually had to quit due to pain and mobility issues. They also said that 30% were able to continue but had diminished output due to pain. It is also worth mentioning that the athletes were spread among several sports that were mostly non-contact sports. No hockey players were included.
So 62% of the surgeries would have been considered 100% successful, which is good, but do you bet $50 million on those odds? I stress that it was an old study and the procedures have likely improved, but I just don't think the data is there to confirm high rates of success, especially in a sport like hockey.
Also of concern is that it will be a whole calendar year that Eichel will have not played or engaged is physical practice. That could be a big problem as well. Not too many players can take a year off and regain their top form.