Sunday, March 1, 2009

Injury of the Week

Luol Deng - Right Tibia Stress Fracture

A stress fracture is an incomplete fracture of a bone caused by repeated "stress" to the target area. It often occurs in weight-bearing bones, one of which is the tibia. The leg, anatomically from the knee to ankle, consists of two bones: the tibia and fubula. The tibia is the more prominent bone toward the inside of the leg, often referred to as the "shin bone." A stress fracture to the tibia is characterized by generalized pain and tenderness, which becomes more severe with exercise. The pain during exercise often becomes less severe as the muscles warm, but then will become severe again after an extended period of time. The only treatment for a stress fracture is rest. The time needed to heal varies between patients, but returning too early can aggravate the injury. Luol Deng has an MRI scheduled for Monday, which will determine if the injury is worse than a stress fracture. If it is a stress fracture, with proper treatment and rest, we should expect to see Luol back in the lineup hopefully within 2-3 months. The reality of the situation is that the injury is nagging and does not heal quickly. The Bulls will need Luol is the lineup, so we can collectively cross our fingers for a better diagnosis.

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