NBA Injury Analysis: D-How Long?

Dwight Howard
Howard has missed Houston's last two games with a right knee strain but recently took a proactive approach in treatment. Howard underwent a procedure that is becoming commonplace in the NBA, a platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injection.

In a traditional PRP treatment, like the one Howard reportedly received, a sample of the injured athlete's blood is drawn and broken down in a centrifuge that spins the sample at high speeds. A doctor will then extract a protein-rich mixture from the sample and inject it back into the injury site. The PRP mixture is filled with platelets, the primary component of blood responsible for clotting. Increasing the platelet count speeds up the body's natural healing response and allows it to work more efficiently.

PRP injections are often compared to another type of treatment known as Orthokine or Regenokine. Orthokine, made famous by Lakers guard Kobe Bryant and his multiple trips to Germany, uses similar principles to traditional PRP injections but utilizes a different part of the blood. Instead of using platelets, specific proteins known as cytokines are removed. The cytokines utilized repress the body's normal inflammatory response and an individualized anti-inflammatory drug is created for the injured athlete. However, the FDA has yet to approve Orthokine for use in the United States due to how the blood specimen is prepared, thus the necessary trek to Germany.

While both treatments are designed to accelerate the healing process, time is still necessary for a complete recovery. The majority of players who have undergone Orthokine have done so in the offseason with Xavier Henry's recent preseason trip to Germany one of the only exceptions. However, numerous examples of in-season PRP injections exist with the average number of missed games just above 11 games. It's worth mentioning that the associated recovery window still depends on the severity of the injury itself. As a result, it's difficult to accurately predict just how long Howard will be sidelined. On the plus side, Portland forward Nicolas Batum recently underwent two rounds of PRP injections for a right knee contusion and was able to return after sitting out just three games.

Reports Monday suggest Howard will try to play against the Knicks though fantasy owners should proceed with caution. The Rockets will likely limit his minutes to minimize the stress placed on his knee and ease him back into the rotation.

Eric Gordon
The Pelicans will be without Gordon for the immediate future after the guard suffered a shoulder injury Saturday. The information on the injury is a bit misleading but I'll do my best to explain.

Initially, Gordon's injury was being called a separated shoulder. Generally, the term separation is used to describe an injury to the acromioclavicular (AC) joint. The AC joint is located where the collarbone connects to the shoulder blade at a bony process known as the acromion. The joint serves as a strut, allowing the arm to be raised overhead. Guards Kyrie Irving and Chris Paul have both suffered AC joint injuries during recent seasons and were sidelined for eight and eighteen games respectively.

However, the Pelicans' team site called the injury a subluxation. The difference is subtle but indicates the location of the injury is different. A subluxation or partial dislocation occurs to the joint known as the glenohumeral joint. It is the ball-and-socket joint of the shoulder and is formed from the head of the humerus and the glenoid fossa of the shoulder blade.

These types of injuries are common in the NBA and the length of recovery is generally dependent on the amount of damage to the labrum, the cartilage that helps stabilize the area. It's nearly impossible for a joint to displace or partially displace without there being some sort of soft tissue damage. New Orleans should provide an update on the severity of the injury but fantasy owners still employing Gordon should anticipate an extended absence.

Editor's Note: This story was submitted before it was announced that Gordon suffered a torn labrum and will be out indefinitely. The Pelicans are unsure whether the injury will require surgery at this time.

The Chicago Bulls
Pau Gasol is hoping his strained calf will allow him to return Monday after missing the Bulls' last three outings. Gasol's return would be a big boost for a Chicago frontcourt that will be without Taj Gibson for at least two games. Gibson sprained his left ankle for the second time this season and third time in seven months in the team's recent loss to Portland. Gibson was sent back to Chicago for further evaluation, but it sounds like he plans on sitting for a while.

Derrick Rose was a limited participant in Sunday's practice and could be on the verge of returning from his left hamstring strain. The Bulls have unsurprisingly taken a conservative approach with Rose, protecting both the hamstring and his surgically repaired knee. Rose will likely see limited action in his return to allow him to gradually return to game speed.

Rose's backcourt mate Kirk Hinrich is also ailing after suffering a chest contusion and bruised ribs. Hinrich did not play against the Blazers, but like Rose, took part in portions of practice on Sunday. He remains listed as doubtful for Monday's contest against the Jazz.

Fast Breaks

Andrea Bargnani: The Knicks forward appeared to be nearing a return from a hamstring injury that cost him the first 13 games of the season. Unfortunately, he strained the calf on the same leg in Friday's practice and is once again sidelined with no definitive timeline. It's common to see a calf injury following a hamstring injury. The two muscles are located in close proximity of each other and work synergistically to move the leg. Bargnani remains unrosterable until he can put together a stretch of sustained good health.

Andrew Bogut: The Aussie center took an elbow to the face Sunday and suffered what the team is calling a right orbital contusion. He is currently listed as questionable for Tuesday's game at Miami.

Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook: The OKC duo was back at practice, though in limited capacity Saturday. Both appear to be nearing a return but Westbrook is more likely to be back first. Other players to suffer hand fractures similar to Westbrook have been able to return ahead of schedule, and it wouldn't be surprising to see him by the end of the week. Durant, on the other hand, should not rush things despite the team's current record. His injury is notoriously fickle and the appropriate amount of recovery time should be allotted. Even when he does return Durant's inherent injury risk will be elevated until he can play for an extended period of time without any issues in his surgically repaired foot.

Editor's note: Both players practiced even more Monday, participating in some contact portions of practice, and it's looking like both of them, or at least Westbrook, could return as early as Wednesday or Friday.

Kevin Martin: The Timberwolves guard will miss at least a few weeks after suffering a broken right wrist in his 37-point performance against the Knicks. The team has not revealed which bone Martin broke but has ruled him out indefinitely. Martin missed 32 games during the 2009-10 season with a fractured scaphoid in his left wrist. The depleted Wolves will turn to Corey Brewer in Martin's absence.