Medical opinions support comeback for Tom Brady

Boston Herald—September 9, 2008   

While Tom Brady's knee injury has sidelined him for the season, doctors say it shouldn't end the star quarterback's career and he could be back next season.

The Patriots said yesterday that Brady's left knee needs surgery and he will miss the rest of the season. No more details were released, but Brady reportedly tore his anterior cruciate ligament (ACL), which requires reconstruction, and may have damaged his medial collateral ligament (MCL), an injury that rarely requires surgery.

Injuries to the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) are among the most common of all sports-related injuries, notes Dr. Joshua Dines, sports medicine orthopedic surgeon at Hospital for Special Surgery. Operations to repair it have become very successful.

Reconstruction is done by using tendon grafts from patellar or hamstring. Tissues harvested from a cadaver can also be used.

Rehabilitation, explained Dr. Dines, can take four to six months.

To view an illustration explaining where these ligaments are in the knee and how they are repaired, go to bostonherald.com.