Woods can’t play golf again… NYT “Splinters your leg bones, you might not be able to walk”

The Harbor-California University of Los Angeles (UCLA) Medical Center, who treated golf emperor Tiger Woods, 46, who was injured in a car accident, said, “Many of the right shin and calf bones of Woods were shattered and broken. An iron core was inserted into the shin bone to stabilize the injured area. The foot and ankle bone were fixed with screws and pins, and the swelling of the wound was also relieved.”

On the 25th, the New York Times interviewed specialists and published an article on Woods’ injury. “Can Woods play golf again? The doctors expected a difficult recovery.”

Dr. Malcolm Smith, head of trauma at the Memorial Medical Center in Massachusetts, said, “It’s usually an injury that occurs when a driver is shocked when a car goes out of control and presses the brakes like crazy. The front part of the vehicle breaks, putting a lot of pressure on the driver’s right leg and foot. These fractures (due to complications) have’giant disability’ and other serious consequences. There is a 70% chance of being completely healed.”

Woods’ bones shattered and scattered, damaging muscles and tendons, and piercing the skin. The newspaper quotes Dr. Smith, “It is possible that the skin tissue that covers the swollen muscles constricted blood flow like a tourniquet, causing some muscle cells to die. If the muscle is necrotic, it cannot be regenerated.”

Dr. Kyle Everlin of Massachusetts General Hospital said, “There is a risk of infection when treating skin-punctured bones, inserting rods and pins into the bones, and lifting muscles. In a car accident, gravel and dirt enter the wound and are dangerous. In the worst case, it may have to be amputated. In order to close a hole in the skin from a broken bone, a skin must be implanted in the thigh or back. If Woods had a skin transplant, it would take months before the leg could bear the weight.” .

Dr. Reza Piruzavadi, a trauma surgeon at the Seattle Harborview Medical Center, told NYT, “With such a wound, blood circulation is poor and the fracture does not heal at all, or even if it heals, it can be very slow.” It takes 5-14 months for Woods’ leg bones to return to normal.

The biggest problems are the feet and ankles. “It’s a big injury, so it can take 3 months to a year to move properly or recover muscle strength,” said Dr. Depending on the degree, Woods may not be able to walk even after rehabilitation.”

Woods will be treated by the world’s best medical staff and has a strong will. But the Woods situation is much more complicated than you think. Woods had five back surgeries, including last December. The back, knee, neck, and shoulder joints are bad. Also, because Woods has an addiction to pain medication, pain management is difficult.

There are some players who have come out of the pit of a major injury. The Times said, “Washington football team quarterback Alex Smith returned from a similar injury to Woods. However, it took two years and had to undergo 17 surgeries. He also suffered a life-threatening septic infection. Besides, Smith didn’t hurt his feet and ankles.”

The legendary golfer Ben Hogan, who is known to suffer similar wounds to Woods, was also mentioned. The New York Times said, “In a car accident in 1949, Hogan broke his collarbone, pelvis, left ankle, and ribs. It was a serious injury, but not comparable to Woods’ injury.” “The Woods may never play golf again,” said Dr. Smith.

Hojun Sung Golf Reporter
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