By Andrew Chernoff
December 5, 2016
Vancouver Canucks General Manager, Jim Benning announced today that forward, Derek Dorsett will undergo cervical disc surgery in his neck. Dorsett is expected to make a full recovery and return to play.
The surgery will be performed by Dr. Robert Watkins in Los Angeles, California. A timeline for full recovery will be estimated after the surgery has been completed and assessed.
“The decision to perform surgery was made after a thorough review of Derek’s options including non-surgical treatment and rehabilitation,” said Benning.
“Derek, our Canucks medical team and Dr. Watkins believe that surgery offers the best outcome both for his career and long-term health. Derek is an important member of our team and we are confident in a full recovery.”
Coach Willie Desjardins said this morning, that Dorsett’s injury is nothing new, and apparently has been known for years:
Desjardins said Dorsett has been dealing with this injury “for five or six years.”
— Vancouver Canucks (@Canucks) December 5, 2016
Darren Dreger, TSN Hockey Insider broke the news that Dorsett would be out for the season.
Won’t be back this season. Hope is for full recovery and return next season. @BlakePriceTSN https://t.co/4CSOTxlSUx
— Darren Dreger (@DarrenDreger) December 5, 2016
The surgery is supposed to be the similar to one that Peyton Manning had; three of them within a 15 month period.
If the surgery is the same, nationally recognized cervical spine expert Dr. Rick Sasso explains more about the surgery and a typical recovery time:
Dr. Rick Sasso with the Indiana Spine Group has performed more than 1,000 of these procedures. He says that for most patients, the data to date overwhelmingly points to its success.
“The disc herniation is on the front of the nerve, so we go in through the front, take the pressure off the nerve, and then we distract that disc space where it belongs. We also open the tunnel where the nerve runs out and then we keep it in that position with a little bone graft. And you usually put a little plate across that section so people can move their neck right away and get back to doing their normal activities very quickly,” he said.
Sasso says it’s routine and highly reliable.
“Most of the time we allow our patients to do aerobic strengthening exercises right away,” said Dr. Sasso “But before we do a collision activity we want to make sure that the fusion is healed and again that’s at the minimum 3 to 4 months.”
Source: http://www.wthr.com/article/nationally-recognized-surgeon-explains-peyton-mannings-neck-surgery
As for who will replace Dorsett full time for the rest of the season, Desjardns had no quick answer:
“There’s no easy replacement for Dorsett. His heart and soul are second to none. You can’t replace his passion.” – Coach Desjardins
— Vancouver Canucks (@Canucks) December 5, 2016
Speculation has it, that the Canucks could pull a trade with a team like the Arizona Coyotes, for example, rather than recall Jake Virtanen or promote another player in the Canucks organization into the vacant spot in the lineup on a full time basis.
Until the Canucks figure out what they will do long term, there is criticism from Canuck fans and others, like Matthew Sekeres, host of TSN 1040’s Sekeres and Price midday program, for knowing about Dorsett’s medical condtion for years.
4 years for someone who, at his absolute best, was a 3rd liner, but most likely a 4th, was pushing it. That they knew this… inexplicable. https://t.co/5jhwGsTCRZ
— Matthew Sekeres (@mattsekeres) December 5, 2016
Derek Dorsett’s agent Jason Davidson says his client could have been rehabbed and played but everybody felt surgery was best.
Derek Dorsett’s agent Jason Davidson says his client could he rehabbed and played but everybody felt surgery was best way to go. #Canucks
— NEWS 1130 Sports (@NEWS1130Sports) December 5, 2016
Davidson says timeline for Dorsett injury will be known after surgery.