Spike Albrecht Out 4-5 Months After Hip Surgery
Spike Albrecht gutted out this season through two bum hips. [Fuller]
The basketball program announced today that Spike Albrecht underwent surgery on his right hip, and still could undergo a similar procedure on his left hip this offseason. He'll recover for 4-5 months, so while he'll miss much of offseason conditioning, he shouldn't sit out any games in 2015-16. From the official release:
"There is no player tougher than Spike Albrecht," said Beilein. "He proved that this season playing through injury and continual pain in both hips. He never used it as an excuse and I will always admire him for that. We have some of the world's best doctors at the University of Michigan and we are confident he will only get better following this surgery and his summer of rehabilitation. I am not expecting Spike to dunk anytime soon, but we do expect a full recovery by the start of our September workouts. We just want Spike to be at his best for his senior year at Michigan."
"This is something I knew I would have to do and now is the right time," said Albrecht. "I am so appreciative of all the support I have received from the U-M medical doctors and staff, the U-M coaching staff, my teammates and especially all the Wolverine fans. I cannot wait to get back to the floor playing pain free."
"I am not expecting Spike to dunk anytime soon," is a gem of a press release quote. Here's hoping for a swift and full recovery; it's remarkable Albrecht was able to play as well as he did while dealing with that level of pain.
That he only got the one hip done. It was said that he could get the procedure done on both hips at the same time. Maybe one is worse than the other, or needs the surgery more. Either way, wishing Spike a speedy recovery.
Moe, I think you're mis-remembering Spike's quote about this from a few weeks ago. He said specifically that he couldn't have both done at the same time.
http://www.mlive.com/wolverines/index.ssf/2015/03/spike_albrecht_weighi…
"The worst part is, I have to get (surgery on) both of them and (the procedures) can't be done at the same time," Albrecht said Thursday. "I'd have to get one and then get the other, so my timeframe would be pushed back."
I'm dumb! I read it as he "could" have them at the same time. My mistake.
Rehab is a lot easier when you got one good leg to stand on. Good choice by him, playing two seasons with a painful hip would be crazy.
If you do both, he's basically in a wheelchair for 6-8 weeks (possibly), which would cause a much longer rehab.
I've seen bilateral knee replacements and bilateral hip replacements (different surgeries, but marginally similar with post-op rehab), and when I need mine done it'll be one side at a time.
The good news is that both the ortho team and rehab team are great at UofM. He's in good hands.
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Great news for Spike.
to just redshirt him next year, and have a fully healthy 5-yr Sr Spike in 2016?? Theoretically we'll have Walton and maybe Levert back, MAAR off the bench, and maybe even Jaylen Brown. Especially if Spike's going to miss all his off season conditioning, how much would he contribute in that scenario? I can't remember if we have a PG in the 2016 class yet.
it sounds like they're expecting him to play next season, and while I would expect some rust for the non-conference games, he should be fine (obviously assuming no setbacks with the hips)
However, while we're in this box making up crazy scenarios... could we put Spike on a medical scholarship for a year, give his scholarship to Jaylen Brown for 2015-2016 and then bring Spike back on a full scholly for his 5th year?
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"Medical hardship" is an appeal to the NCAA where the school basically says the player is so injured / incapacitated from athletic activity that he can't play the sport anymore. The player has to agree to this. The benefits are that the student gets to stay on paid scholarship to complete his degree program, and the school gets to take that scholarship number off their active roster (i.e. "freeing up" a scholarship). However, the student basically gives up any claims to playing NCAA sports from that point forward.
Some of the scandal out of the SEC usage of this have been related to claims that the players weren't fully informed that they couldn't transfer or retain eligibility after accepting the "medical", or that their medical conditions weren't bad enough to warrant a medical hardship.
...there's bound to be issues. Get Well Spike! GO BLUE.
So if he does get the other hip done later, it's another 4-5 months?
Albrecht told MLive on March 26 that he was mulling the decision to have surgery on both hips and would face a four-to-five month recovery if he opted to do so. "The worst part is, I have to get (surgery on) both of them and (the procedures) can't be done at the same time," Albrecht said two weeks ago. "I'd have to get one and then get the other, so my timeframe would be pushed back." That frame will likely last the entire 2015 offseason.
http://www.mlive.com/wolverines/index.ssf/2015/04/spike_albrecht_to_officially_u.html
So if he has both, he's out next year. Interesting, I guess we have a wait on our hands (and so does he) to see if he'll be able to play.
...that he would "only" miss the entire off season if he had both hips done, so he would be back by the start of the season.
"That frame will likely last the entire 2015 offseason."
Doesn't that mean out the full year?
...now until September (or whenever it is the team can start practicing with the coaches again).
Thanks
Offseason, not season. He will miss the entire offseason if he has both surgeries. Of course, the rehab could take longer, but it's not projected to.
Right, thank you. You're right, I wasn't picking up on the "off" there
The most likely scenario (I have no inside info): He doesn't have a true injury but rather misshapen femoral head that usually results in Labral tear and some cartilage damage. They fix the Labral tear after shaving a little bone from the rim of the cup, then they shave/burr bone off his egg-shaped femoral head to make it a more circular head/neck. (Round ball in round socket vs egg in round socket). This prevents impingement of the head on the edge of the socket, which is the source of the pain. This will Improve his hip range of motion and alleviate his pain.
The lead author on the paper linked below will likely be Spikes surgeon. Go blue.
http://www.cuh.org.uk/addenbrookes/health_professionals/conferences/tra…
I hesitate to put a time table on his return to play, but the 4-6 month window what I was thinking as well. I would guess he's walking, pain free, 6 weeks after the second surgery. The next test will be jumping pain free and making cuts. The final test will be full contact practice.
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Best of luck #2 - heal quickly!
"There is no player tougher than Spike Albrecht",
Ain't that the truth. Kid is guts galore. Another in a long line of Beilein kids who leave everything on the floor. Get well soon Spike. Kate needs you!!!
Get well soon Spike. My Michigan fandom is relatively young (2007), but I think Spike will always be one of my favorites.
wearing the Maize and Blue? Get well soon Spike!!!
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on the bball team who was not injured this year????? Oy.
Hoping for a full recovery not just for next season by for the remainder of his life after basketball.
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Hopefully, he gets good well wishes from Kate Upton too.
Well Spike chooses not to dunk. So there. 
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