INDIANAPOLIS — University of Louisville basketball player Kevin Ware underwent successful surgery Sunday night to repair the gruesome open fracture of his right tibia he suffered during the Cardinals' 85-63 win over Duke in the Midwest Regional final, and he is expected to remain in Indianapolis until at least Tuesday, U of L announced.
Ware had the bone reset, and a rod was inserted into leg during the operation that lasted about two hours. The wound caused by the bone puncturing through his skin in his lower leg was closed.
U of L's late-night release said no timetable for recovery has been set, but the early prognosis from U of L sports medicine director Fred Hina - given right after the game while Ware was in surgery - was that Ware is bound for a lengthy recovery, but the injury is not likely a career-ending one.
Hina was part of the team that stabilized Ware’s injury on the court as he was removed on a stretcher.
“It’s an injury that needs to be dealt with in a swift fashion due to the fact that it was open, and there are infection concerns, and then obviously you need to stabilize that fracture,” he said. “One thing you have to establish is, is there circulation below the fracture. Did he disrupt any arteries or veins? Once we establish that, it’s stabilizing the fracture as tight as we can so that it doesn’t move.”
Ware is hopeful he can return to Louisville after Tuesday, then join the Cardinals as they advance to the Final Four in Atlanta, his hometown.
U of L’s team physician traveled with Ware in the ambulance to the hospital after the injury, and Hina and Ware’s girlfriend, who was at the game, have been in contact with Ware’s mother, who lives in Atlanta.
Ware’s mother planned to travel to see him soon, Hina said.
Hina said Ware’s recovery time would be based on the nature of the hardware that was inserted in his leg.
“Because it was a weight-bearing bone and it was such a difficult injury, it will take a while,” Hina said. “But he will play again.”
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