Grant Hill's Ankle  2004's Feel Good Story By Jay Lieberman, DPM Editor, PRESENT

Grant Hill is reclaiming his place among the NBA elite, following 5 ankle surgeries that threatened his all all-star NBA career.  After 9 games this season, Hill, 32, is the leading scorer for the Orlando Magic, averaging 21.3 points per game.

Hill initially injured his left ankle in April 2000, while playing for the Detroit Pistons in a playoff game against the Miami Heat.  Basketball fans will vividly recall Grant's Futile attempts to play with the terrific pain in his ankle.  Once the fracture in his left ankle was discovered, Hill was brought to surgery where a plate and five screws were inserted to allow the ankle to heal.  Despite the injury, the Orlando Magic saw great potential in Hill and signed him to a 7 year 94 million dollar contract.

Unfortunately, the stress fracture was very slow to heal.  Since the year 2000, Hill has been limited to 56 total games.  Many questioned whether he would ever return to basketball.  Two subsequent surgeries were performed which involved a "take down" of the non union, in conjunction with insertion of a bone graft and screw fixation.  Comeback attempts were constantly thwarted either because of incomplete healing or re-injury because of the rigors associated with life in the NBA.

In March 2003, Hill consulted James A. Nunley, MD Chief of Orthopedic Surgery at Duke Medical Center, to determine why his ankle would not heal satisfactorily.  It was determined that the varus position of his calcaneus was contributing to the instability in his ankle.  A fourth surgery was then performed to remove the old hardware, excise the devitalized bone, and apply a bone plate.  This time, genetically engineered bone matrix was used to assist in the healing process.  An osteotomy of the calcaneus was performed simultaneously to better align the lower leg and the heel.

To add to his misery, Hill developed a post operative infection.  Upon arrival at the hospital, his fever was 104.5 and he was convulsing.  During a seven hour surgery, doctors debrided the wound, then grafted skin and soft tissue on to his wound.  For eight weeks he received three daily doses of Vancomyin.  Fortunately, the infection never affected the bone.

The great philosopher, Greenblatt, once said, "when you plant with tears, you harvest with joy."

Seasons Greetings and Happy New Year.