Nick Kyrgios’ journey back to tennis is a remarkable story of resilience and medical innovation. Just under a year ago, the tennis star struggled with excruciating wrist pain, unable to perform simple tasks like opening a door or a jar. Kyrgios was facing severe wrist arthritis before the age of 30, stemming from a wrist sprain he suffered during a match against Grigor Dimitrov at Indian Wells in 2015.
Despite playing at a high level for the following seven years, Kyrgios’ condition worsened dramatically during a hitting session at Wimbledon last year. Desperate for a solution, he sought treatment in the US, even trying stem cell therapy, but found no relief. It was only after returning to Canberra and consulting with specialist Dr. Kylie Shaw that an MRI revealed a full rupture of the scapholunate ligament, a critical stabilizer in the wrist, comparable to an ACL in the knee.
Dr. Shaw referred Kyrgios to Dr. Michael Sandow, a renowned wrist surgeon at the Wakefield Orthopaedic Clinic in Adelaide. Dr. Sandow described Kyrgios’ situation as dire: “When I first talked to Nick, he was very depressed and looking at never playing tennis again. He had very nasty wrist instability with a tear that can create significant wrist bone collapse and leads inevitably to arthritis.”
The solution was a groundbreaking procedure known as Anatomical Front and Back (ANAFAB) reconstruction. This innovative surgery used patented 3D animated software to pre-plan the operation precisely. Dr. Sandow drilled holes in the trapezium, scaphoid, lunate, and radius bones, using artificial ligaments to hold everything in place, allowing Kyrgios’ ligaments to heal properly.
The surgery was performed in secret to avoid media attention. “We brought him into the bottom carpark, snuck him to the top floor ward, then to theatre and back to the ward, and no media found out he was in Adelaide for wrist surgery,” Dr. Sandow explained.
Despite the risks and uncertain outcomes typically associated with such severe wrist injuries, the results exceeded expectations. Dr. Sandow noted, “Nick’s now playing tennis again. If you talk to anyone in the wrist specialist world, they would be quite amazed. You just don’t get these results.”
Kyrgios’ successful recovery and return to the court is a testament to his determination and the advanced medical techniques employed in his surgery. His story not only highlights his resilience but also the potential for innovative medical procedures to provide athletes with a second chance at their careers.
Nick Kyrgios in 2024
Now ranked no.470, Nick played his last match on the 13th of June 2023 when he was defeated by world no.487 Yibing Wu 7-5 6-3 in the 1st round in Stuttgart (draw).
This season Nick has managed to achieve a composed 0-1 win-loss record.
Nick Kyrgios |
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