The human knee is quite possibly the most important part of the body in any form of physical athletics. Notice how I said physical, as poker is not a sport, regardless of whether it is on ESPN or not. Football, basektball, and soccer may be the three most demanding sports on the knee.

When you think about it, the elements and function of the knee are quite amazing: four bones operating together within an area of tendons, ligaments and cartilage.

However, think about how many high-profile athletes that have either had their careers shortened by knee injuries, or suffered a severe, or somewhat-severe knee injury and just weren’t the same player since.

Penny Hardaway comes to mind. Chris Webber as well. Even Gale Sayers.

All three had knee issues in their career, and saw their careers spiral downwards as a direct result.

Recently in the NBA we’ve seen leading assist-man and best point guard in the league Chris Paul, sustain a knee injury that could potentially put him on a path similar to Penny or C-Web later in his career.

While he is under the age of 25, the injury still leaves reason to be concerned for future effects.

Surgery removed torn meniscus

The six-foot Paul of the New Orleans Hornets is expected to miss 6-8 weeks after his Feb. 4 successful arthroscopic surgery on his left knee by the infamous Dr. James Andrews. However Andrews removed the torn meniscus, he did not repair it. This is not as serious as the dreaded micro-fracture surgery, but there is a possibility that this could lead to more knee surgery just a few years down the road.

The meniscus plays a key part in helping the knee function. The meniscus is a pad of cartilage that acts like a shock absorber, absorbing the knee. The meniscus is also vital for knee stability. When the meniscus is damaged or is surgically removed, the knee-joint can become loose, or unstable. Without the protection and stability of a healthy meniscus, the surfaces of the knee would be bone-on-bone, essentially the same problem that leads to micro fracture surgery.

Paul’s game is heavily reliant on his quickness and explosiveness — beating his opponent with his first step. Paul will most likely have to alter his game a bit after the surgery, and while he still be able to ball against several st players in the league, he will lose some explosiveness due to the surgery(ies)

There are two menisci in each knee however Paul now only has one in his left knee, creating a partial bone-on-bone grinding situation in the knee. Paul may very well fully recover this year, and may not feel the effects for a few years.

Chris Paul may lose some of his explosiveness due to a meniscectomy, and partial bone-on-bone wear on the joint. (AP Photo/Danny Moloshok, File)
I’m not suggesting that Paul will become a below-average player. However, with bone-on-bone in the knee, surgery could indeed be needed again at some point, only this time Paul is not going to be 24.

Micro fracture surgery is a possible combatant for high-shock bone-on-bone scenarios in athletes, as the procedure involves digging microscopic holes in the bone, prompting blood flow and the stimulation of bone marrow. This leads to the growth of fibrous cartilage, which is the shock absorbing cartilage present in menisci.

Not only will Paul be playing without part of his meniscus in his left knee (therefore over-stressing the remaining portions) but he could possibly undergo micro-fracture surgery down the road to help in the creation of cartilage in the knee.

Paul will have to change his game a bit, to more of a set jump-shot instead of dribble-penetration, and creating offense from sheer athleticism.

Paul is easily one of my favorite players in all of the NBA, and it’s possible he makes a full recovery. However, with the importance of the knee in professional basketball and the style of game that Paul plays, the injury he suffered back on Jan. 29 could end up hindering his performance and career to somewhat of a significance beyond just this season as he attempts his comeback.

However, great players are able to find ways to adjust and make it work.

And make no mistake about it, Chris Paul is great.

http://richiez23.wordpress.com/2010/02/26/

CrushAlot wrote:I am hoping that some of the people on the forum that are doctors or have had knee surgeries will give feedback on this. I remember learning a lot when McGrady was signed.

Don't forget H20, Penny. Zach and Amare are the rare few that made it through Microfracture surgery. There is no way the Knicks should think about getting Paul. I'm a big fan of his but I'll pass. I think Felton will suffice.

Vmart wrote:

CrushAlot wrote:I am hoping that some of the people on the forum that are doctors or have had knee surgeries will give feedback on this. I remember learning a lot when McGrady was signed.

Don't forget H20, Penny. Zach and Amare are the rare few that made it through Microfracture surgery. There is no way the Knicks should think about getting Paul. I'm a big fan of his but I'll pass. I think Felton will suffice.

Chris Paul had a torn meniscus, not an ACL tear. He didn't get microfracture surgery.

My brother also tells me that people, and athletes, can recover 100% from meniscus removal surgery. They may have an earlier onset of arthritis, but Chris Paul is 24 years old here. Moreover, most procedures will replace the removed meniscus with new cartilage to absorb shock, so I highly doubt doctors are letting Paul's knees hit bone to bone as this article suggests.

Even if Paul does slow down at 30, like Jason Kidd, I'd much rather get him now and get a good 5 years out of him with Amare.

scoshin wrote:

Vmart wrote:

CrushAlot wrote:I am hoping that some of the people on the forum that are doctors or have had knee surgeries will give feedback on this. I remember learning a lot when McGrady was signed.

Don't forget H20, Penny. Zach and Amare are the rare few that made it through Microfracture surgery. There is no way the Knicks should think about getting Paul. I'm a big fan of his but I'll pass. I think Felton will suffice.

Chris Paul had a torn meniscus, not an ACL tear. He didn't get microfracture surgery.

My brother also tells me that people, and athletes, can recover 100% from meniscus removal surgery. They may have an earlier onset of arthritis, but Chris Paul is 24 years old here. Moreover, most procedures will replace the removed meniscus with new cartilage to absorb shock, so I highly doubt doctors are letting Paul's knees hit bone to bone as this article suggests.

Even if Paul does slow down at 30, like Jason Kidd, I'd much rather get him now and get a good 5 years out of him with Amare.

CrushAlot wrote:

scoshin wrote:

Vmart wrote:

CrushAlot wrote:I am hoping that some of the people on the forum that are doctors or have had knee surgeries will give feedback on this. I remember learning a lot when McGrady was signed.

Don't forget H20, Penny. Zach and Amare are the rare few that made it through Microfracture surgery. There is no way the Knicks should think about getting Paul. I'm a big fan of his but I'll pass. I think Felton will suffice.

Chris Paul had a torn meniscus, not an ACL tear. He didn't get microfracture surgery.

My brother also tells me that people, and athletes, can recover 100% from meniscus removal surgery. They may have an earlier onset of arthritis, but Chris Paul is 24 years old here. Moreover, most procedures will replace the removed meniscus with new cartilage to absorb shock, so I highly doubt doctors are letting Paul's knees hit bone to bone as this article suggests.

Even if Paul does slow down at 30, like Jason Kidd, I'd much rather get him now and get a good 5 years out of him with Amare.

His meniscus was removed in one knee. That is why the article talks about the possibility that it will lead to microfracture surgery.

Let me go over this one more time. Chris Paul had surgery to REPAIR torn meniscal cartilige.....NOT replace. IF the meniscus was REPLACED in one knee....Chris Paul would not be able to walk correctly and without pain, let alone play Professional Basketball. If Paul's Meniscus was removed entirely - he WOULD have had Microfracture Surgery. Linking a BLOG post from wordpress and running with it as if it was fact is never a good thing.

foosballnick wrote:

CrushAlot wrote:

scoshin wrote:

Vmart wrote:

CrushAlot wrote:I am hoping that some of the people on the forum that are doctors or have had knee surgeries will give feedback on this. I remember learning a lot when McGrady was signed.

Don't forget H20, Penny. Zach and Amare are the rare few that made it through Microfracture surgery. There is no way the Knicks should think about getting Paul. I'm a big fan of his but I'll pass. I think Felton will suffice.

Chris Paul had a torn meniscus, not an ACL tear. He didn't get microfracture surgery.

My brother also tells me that people, and athletes, can recover 100% from meniscus removal surgery. They may have an earlier onset of arthritis, but Chris Paul is 24 years old here. Moreover, most procedures will replace the removed meniscus with new cartilage to absorb shock, so I highly doubt doctors are letting Paul's knees hit bone to bone as this article suggests.

Even if Paul does slow down at 30, like Jason Kidd, I'd much rather get him now and get a good 5 years out of him with Amare.

His meniscus was removed in one knee. That is why the article talks about the possibility that it will lead to microfracture surgery.

Let me go over this one more time. Chris Paul had surgery to REPAIR torn meniscal cartilige.....NOT replace. IF the meniscus was REPLACED in one knee....Chris Paul would not be able to walk correctly and without pain, let alone play Professional Basketball. If Paul's Meniscus was removed entirely - he WOULD have had Microfracture Surgery. Linking a BLOG post from wordpress and running with it as if it was fact is never a good thing.

I also think that it was a torn meniscus and they cut out the torn portion of the meniscus that is usually done in arthroscopic surgery. At the same time the writer mentions the removal of the meniscus so we have no idea which one it is, regardless if it was the removal of the entire Meniscus there is a good chance Paul doesn't return to finish the season off. This leads me to believe that he had a tear in the meniscus and it was remove by arthroscopic surgery. But until fact are known which one it is I have to pass on Paul at this moment in time.

foosballnick wrote:

CrushAlot wrote:

scoshin wrote:

Vmart wrote:

CrushAlot wrote:I am hoping that some of the people on the forum that are doctors or have had knee surgeries will give feedback on this. I remember learning a lot when McGrady was signed.

Don't forget H20, Penny. Zach and Amare are the rare few that made it through Microfracture surgery. There is no way the Knicks should think about getting Paul. I'm a big fan of his but I'll pass. I think Felton will suffice.

Chris Paul had a torn meniscus, not an ACL tear. He didn't get microfracture surgery.

My brother also tells me that people, and athletes, can recover 100% from meniscus removal surgery. They may have an earlier onset of arthritis, but Chris Paul is 24 years old here. Moreover, most procedures will replace the removed meniscus with new cartilage to absorb shock, so I highly doubt doctors are letting Paul's knees hit bone to bone as this article suggests.

Even if Paul does slow down at 30, like Jason Kidd, I'd much rather get him now and get a good 5 years out of him with Amare.

His meniscus was removed in one knee. That is why the article talks about the possibility that it will lead to microfracture surgery.

Let me go over this one more time. Chris Paul had surgery to REPAIR torn meniscal cartilige.....NOT replace. IF the meniscus was REPLACED in one knee....Chris Paul would not be able to walk correctly and without pain, let alone play Professional Basketball. If Paul's Meniscus was removed entirely - he WOULD have had Microfracture Surgery. Linking a BLOG post from wordpress and running with it as if it was fact is never a good thing.

There was no repair it was a removal as reported here ...however it does not say how large the tissue was in the link.

Removal usually has the athlete on the floor much sooner than Paul made it back. Repairs are reported to take longer.

The math adds up for me.

Not only have I had the surgery, my brother in law is an orthopedic surgeon and I confirmed this with him. This is consistent with other links I have read such as http://www.nba.com/hornets/news/chris_paul_has_successful_surg_2010_02_04.html. This is a common surgery ...people in this thread are blowing this way out of proportion....sheesh.

As the Hornets prepare to play their 19th consecutive game without him - and the 27th overall this season - Paul remains sidelined as a result of Feb. 4 arthroscopic surgery to remove the torn portion of the meniscus cartilage in his left knee, a convalescence originally termed to last four to six weeks.

foosballnick wrote:Don't know who Richie from Wordpress is - but the artical is misleading. In Arthroscopic Knee Surgery they don't generally remove the entire meniscus - they remove the portion that is damaged and leave the remainder. This leaves behind padding within the knee joint. If they had for instance removed the either the entire Medial or Lateral Meniscus on Paul - all of the padding in the associated knee joint would be gone and he would then require micro-fracture. During Arthroscopy - they also can shave down the bone to help guard against future tears/pain. Does this mean that Paul's knee is less stabile? Most likely. Does it mean he will need micro-fracture.....that remains to be seen. Most athletes after Athroscopy on Cartlidge wear a flexible compression brace at the minimum to help stabilize the knee.

I guess reading is not your thing. Further - I know this will be difficult for you - but if you bothered to read my link...they use the term REPAIR. LOL

As the Hornets prepare to play their 19th consecutive game without him - and the 27th overall this season - Paul remains sidelined as a result of Feb. 4 arthroscopic surgery to remove the torn portion of the meniscus cartilage in his left knee, a convalescence originally termed to last four to six weeks.

Here's another link that uses http://REPAIR..http://www.nba.com/hornets/news/chris_paul_has_successful_surg_2010_02_04.html

How bout this one on "Mensical Repair" for Paul
http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=4888073

If you want - you can read up on Meniscal REPAIR here.
http://orthopedics.about.com/cs/meniscusinjuries1/a/meniscusrepair.htm

But I guess you don't need to since you know more then everyone on the entire planet.