University of Louisville basketball player Kevin Ware suffered one of the most gruesome injuries in all of sports' history during an Elite 8 match-up with Duke in the 2013 NCAA tournament on Sunday, March 31, 2013. By the time the evening rolled around, the USA Today reported that Ware had undergone successful surgery on his leg, and he is expected to remain in Indianapolis until at least Tuesday.
Ware had the bone reset, and a rod was inserted into his leg during an operation that lasted around two hours. The wound that was caused by the bone puncturing its way through the skin in his lower leg was also closed.
The University of Louisville released a statement late on Sunday and gave no timetable for Ware's recovery, but the early prognosis is that it will be a lengthy recovery. U of L sports medicine director has said that it is not likely a career-ending injury.
"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 to return to Louisville on Tuesday and then join his team as they head to the Final Four in Atlanta, his hometown. Ware's girlfriend was at the game and went to the hospital with him. They have been in contact with his mother in Atlanta, and she plans to travel to see him soon.
SEE: Television schedule for 2013 NCAA basketball tournament - Final Four
The injury has been compared to that of former U of L running back Michael Bush back in the 2006 season for the Cardinals. Bush recovered and currently plays in the NFL.
"I feel so bad," Bush tweetd. "Flashback of myself."
Louisville coach Rick Pitino felt the same way.
"Once I spoke to the trainer at halftime and he told me it's Michael Bush's injury," U of L coach Rick Pitino said. "He said it's going to take some time coach, but he'll be fine. Once I knew that then I could regroup and just get them refocused. ... He's going to be fine. Now if this was a career-ending injury? (But) we all know how good Michael Bush is right now, and it's a Michael Bush injury."
Other medical professionals have said that their main concerns through the next 24 hours are infection and blood flow since there was an open wound for Ware. Possible complications could include slow healing of the bones or soft tissues.
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