What Doctors say after Grizzlies’ Zach Edey ankle injury

Memphis was once again hit hard by the offseason injury plague. As part of last week’s summer workout, Grizzlies center Zach Edey hurt his left ankle.
He is scheduled for a follow-up appointment in four months after undergoing ankle stabilization surgery. The 7-foot-4, second-year player will likely miss the start of the season (which begins on October 21) due to the injury.

The Grizzlies will have to get used to playing without Edey, who will miss out on what should be a typical first offseason in the NBA. For more insight into Edey’s prognosis, The Commercial Appeal consulted with Dr. Kenneth Jung of Cedars-Sinai Orthopaedics in Los Angeles, who specializes in orthopedic foot and ankle surgery.
Jung has experience working with various professional sports clubs, including the Los Angeles Lakers and L.A. Kings.

Explaining Zach Edey’s injury

An ankle sprain, the reason for Edey’s operation, is a concept that can be confusing. He could have, in principle, recovered from his sprain and returned to the NBA before the season started.
But this injury isn’t all.

The Grizzlies announced on June 10 that he has decided to have surgery on the laxity in his left ankle. According to Jung, ankle ligaments are similar to taffy. “Each time you roll it or sprain it, it can get a little more stretched out,” explained the doctor. It lacks elasticity.

It remains at the length it was originally… Being stretched out can make it less stable at the joint compared to when it was shorter. By stabilizing the ankle, Edey will be able to avoid recurrent, potentially debilitating sprains.

Zach Edey’s recovery process

ung said doctors will let the ankle heal before working on range of motion or anything else.

“If it heals stretched out, then you might as well have not done anything.”

Jung estimates that it will take the ligament four to eight weeks to stabilize and heal before Edey can start rehab. Then there will be a gradual ramp-up toward basketball activity.

Strength and confidence will be two of the biggest factors that determine how fast or methodical Edey’s return will be after he’s reevaluated in four months.

“I’m sure that he’s had episodes where he kind of just plants on it and it rolls,” Jung said. “If he feels unsteady in that sense, then it’s building up that confidence again where he can plant on it, push off and go. He’s got to trust it again.”

Zach Edey’s return

These types of ankle surgeries are usually done in the offseason. While not the most common surgical procedure, there are NBA players who have had a similar surgery and returned to basketball.

Former Grizzlies guard Sam Merrill needs surgery in 2022 after battling frequent ankle sprains. At the time, he labeled the procedure a “pretty rare” process.
NBA veteran Taj Gibson had troubles with his left ankle for numerous seasons before seeing a foot specialist and receiving surgery in June 2015. He was able to return at the beginning of the following season and appeared in 73 games. Each player’s physique is different, but these instances suggest that Memphis may still integrate Edey into its long-term plans. “(The surgeries) do very well,” Jung added. “You hear ankle sprain, and it’s not like Achilles rupture or ACL tear when the general public instinctively associates it with surgery.

In this scenario, you’re doing surgery more for the chronic instability. Not necessarily because he had an ankle sprain.”