Minnesota Timberwolves center, Nikola Pekovic has opted to have ankle surgery to remove bone spurs in his right ankle after the end of the season.
Pekovic has really shined this season, averaging 17.4 points throughout March. But pain stemming from an old ankle injury has caused him to struggle.
Bone spurs, also called osteophytes, are bony projections that form on the edges of bones and in joints. They are the result of long periods of pressure on the bones. In many cases, they can go undetected for years, and some don’t require any treatment at all. Other times, as in Pekovic’s case, they can cause pain.
“It’s something that will help me to be healthy next season,” Pekovic said. “It will help me and my team and everything. I know without that trouble, I’ll be more calm, not thinking about it. And hopefully, not miss any games.”
Pekovic hopes that this surgery will allow him to return to the court next season without any hinderances.
“Pekovic has blossomed this year and I have enjoyed watching him, but I fear from this article that he will follow in a long line of incompletely treated professional athletes,” says Orthopedic surgeon, Dr. Lance Silverman. “If all that is done is spur removal, his symptoms will improve temporarily but, it will not fix the problem. Treating the underlying cause of the spurs through reconstruction of the lateral ankle ligaments is essential for the best results.”
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