Apr
3
2012
As everyone probably knows by know, Jeremy Lin sustained a small tear in his meniscus and is slated to be out approximately 6 weeks. Lin underwent successful surgery yesterday. Seeing as how some people may not understand the actual extent of the injury and what it actually is, I’ll explain it.
A meniscal tear is a tear in the cartilage, a slight one in Lin’s case, located between the top of the tibia and the bottom of the femur The meniscus is thinly covered by another layer of cartilage. The injury is usually caused by a twisting of the knee, which is exactly what happened to Lin during the game against the Pistons. Lin underwent knee arthroscopy, which is simply the removal of the damaged part of the meniscus. Arthroscopic surgery is done by inserting small instruments and a small camera into the knee joint through several small incisions, then examining and repairing the tissue. The surgery is done under general and local anesthesia and takes about one to two hours.
The Knicks have said that Lin will be back ready to play in about 6 weeks, which is a blessing because he could return during the playoffs. Lin’s return would probably come to fruition towards the end of the first series, unless the series is over fairly quickly. He should definitely be available for the 2nd round, which is very good news. If his injury was more severe, he could have been out for several months. Of course, this is all relative to New York actually making the playoffs and winning a playoff series.
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By Taylor Armosino •
Injury News •
