Isaiah Gash has career ending surgery

Submitted by MgoBlowww on June 12th, 2023 at 9:25 PM

Per Isaiah himself on TikTok (@isaiahgash41) he had career ending knee surgery to replace the cartilage for a second time. I haven’t seen this posted yet so I figured I’d share. 

BlueintheLou

June 12th, 2023 at 9:31 PM ^

Not OT - and damn, that sucks for the young man. Made some solid contributions last year, and may have been lined up for more.

 

Best of luck to him in his recovery and finding what's next. 

mgeoffriau

June 12th, 2023 at 9:34 PM ^

Thanks for the post. That's a bummer, but I'm thankful for his contributions and I'm glad he had earned a scholarship. Also, in looking him up just now, I realized his dad is Sam Gash, which somehow I had not realized.

mooseman

June 12th, 2023 at 10:29 PM ^

The procedure involves harvesting your own cartilage cells, culturing them and then replanting them in a second procedure. The method that's been around longest involves taking a periosteal flap (the periosteum is the "skin" that covers bone) sewing that flap over the defect and then injecting the cultured cells beneath that flap. A more recent method involves the cells being placed on a special membrane and fitting it to the defect.

The other methods that have been around longer are drilling, abrasion or micro fracture the goal of which is to get stimulate a fibrocartilage healing of the defect.

Watching From Afar

June 13th, 2023 at 8:09 AM ^

I had chondroplasty after college when I dislocated my kneecap for the 2nd time. It was terrible. My knee hasn't been the same. Have zero confidence in it and it aches pretty regularly.

Worst part was that I was told it was a meniscus tear so I was going to be back to normal in a couple of months. Woke up in a huge knee brace and was told it would just take more PT. Then my PT was actually honest and told me it was a serious problem. 23 year old at the time, former college athlete, and I ended up with the knee of a 60 year old. 

umaz1

June 12th, 2023 at 10:37 PM ^

I was a guinea pig back in 2003. I had a piece of bone the size of a quatrter break off the end of my left femur. They harvested bone marrow from my tibia and injected it in the broken part of the bone and sealed it up with a “skin” graft. They also harvested some of my healthy cartilage and shipped it back east where they grew more in a lab. 6 months later, after the bone hardened and new cartilage was grown, they cut me back open and placed the cartilage over the damaged area. Another 6 months on crutches and both the bone and cartilage were set. 20 years later and it is still holding. No metal pins or plates, just my own bone and cartilage. 

Other Andrew

June 13th, 2023 at 1:10 AM ^

That sound arduous!

But it also sounds like it worked out for you better than my microfracture surgery from 16 years ago. My knee is structurally good (acl replacement) but my level of athleticism was never the same. Not that I had been Chris Webber or Jamal Mashburn. But those guys also saw a big decline and started at a considerably higher level than I did.

Shame about Gash. Thank goodness the coaches gave him that opportunity to redeem himself against Illinois. He can retire on a high note.

 

XM - Mt 1822

June 12th, 2023 at 10:48 PM ^

that's sad.  i know how much sports meant to me and how much it means to our kids.  the thought of not being able to keep playing because of what is basically a pretty serious injury has got to be devastating.  Lord willing, this is the type of thing that vectors him into some exceptional life circumstances and achievements, a healthy 'making up for the lost opportunity' approach to young mr. gash.  

LabattsBleu

June 12th, 2023 at 11:41 PM ^

damn. sad news to hear. I thought the kid played well when he had the chance to go in.

Hopefully, he'll find success and happiness off the field. It would be great for him to still be part of the team in some capacity until he is able to graduate with his recruiting class.

StateStreetApostle

June 12th, 2023 at 11:50 PM ^

Here's his career gamelog; how many of us have said something to the effect of "I'd give a [knee] to have run for over 100 yards (and 2 TDs) for the University of Michigan?  I'm sorry he actually lived it out, but gosh what a man!

The only 3 catches of his career came against Illinois.  Great time to come up big.

His MGoBlue bio.

Godspeed Isaiah, and thank you from a grateful Blue nation.

Maize in Cincy

June 13th, 2023 at 12:11 AM ^

This is a good lesson to kids thinking the grass is always greener on the other side of the portal.  Gash stayed here, will get top notch medical care and a degree from a great university that will set him up for life.   Hope he sticks around the team this season but not sure what the rules on that are.