By: Jesse Larch, Sports Talk Philly Staff
Following a report from Marc Stein on Wednesday that said Sixers' star center Joel Embiid would likely need surgery on his partially torn meniscus, "The Process" has had successful surgery on his meniscus Friday, the Sixers announced moments before tip off of their game with the Bulls in Chicacgo:
Embiid Undergoes Successful Surgery
MORE | https://t.co/0MwANqXuji .
— Philadelphia 76ers (@Sixers) March 25, 2017
Dr. Neal S. ElAttrache at the Kerlan-Jobe Orthopedic Clinic in Los Angeles performed the surgery. It was known that Embiid stayed in Los Angeles to pursue consultation on his knee after joining the team on their recent west coast road trip.
The surgery appears to have a been a menisectomy, which requires 2-to-5 months less rehabilitation than a full meniscus repair.
Dr. ElAttrache said that the results of the surgery were very successful:
"The overall status of Joel’s lateral meniscus and his cartilage is very good. Today's procedure focused on removing a small portion of the meniscus that was responsible for his symptoms. The recovery program that has been established targets Joel transitioning back to full weight-bearing in approximately two weeks, at which point a conservative approach to his rehabilitation will be introduced.”
In addition to returning to weight-bearing in two weeks, the Sixers anticipate Embiid to return to basketball activities during the Summer.
Bryan Colangelo also commented on Embiid's surgery:
"Joel, his representatives and our medical staff conducted extensive research based on prioritizing the best possible treatment and recovery outcome for Joel's knee injury resulting in today's procedure by Dr. ElAttrache. We are very pleased with his post-surgical assessment and forecast for a healthy return to basketball activity."
All parties involved appear to be optimistic about Embiid's return to health, Including Embiid himself:
From @JoelEmbiid #TrustTheSurgery pic.twitter.com/ipxzvA3Jeg
— John Clark CSN (@JClarkCSN) March 25, 2017