Last December, star Redwings player Dan Cleary was hit by a puck fired by his own teammate, Brad Stuart. The puck hit and broke Cleary’s left ankle. Upon initial diagnoses, no one was sure when Cleary would be able to return to the ice, if at all. But with the proper treatments, Cleary was back after just five weeks.
Although Cleary initially returned to the ice shortly after the injury, X-rays showed later that he had sustained a non-displaced ankle fracture. The injury was serious but did not require surgery.
Watch video of the injury.
Up until this point, Cleary was having a fantastic season, having 35 points to his name. Cleary returned to play during the playoffs but didn’t perform nearly as well as he had before the injury. This happens often with athletes who try to rush back into play following an injury. Ben Roethlisberger’s ankle sprain is a good recent example.
In the next week, we will be presenting a retrospective analysis of Cleary’s injury, treatment, and his path to recovery. This series will feature extensive commentary from Dr. Lance Silverman, renowned Minnesota Orthopedic surgeon.
Stay tuned!
Related Sources:
ESPN.com
