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Tarik Skubal, Detroit Tigers ace, could return faster than expected
TL;DR
Detroit Tigers ace Tarik Skubal may return from elbow surgery faster than expected, according to his agent Scott Boras. Skubal's recovery time could be significantly reduced due to a new surgical technique used by Dr. Neal ElAttrache.
Key points
- Tarik Skubal underwent surgery for a bone chip in his elbow
- Recovery time typically ranges from 2-6 months
- Scott Boras believes Skubal's recovery could be faster
- A new surgical technique was used by Dr. Neal ElAttrache
- The procedure allows for greater precision in surgery
Mentioned in this story
Detroit TigersScott BorasDr. Neal ElAttrache
Tarik Skubal
Could Detroit Tigers ace Tarik Skubal be back from injury much faster than anticipated? His agent thinks so.
Skubal recently underwent surgery to remove a bone chip in his left elbow, and though the Tigers have not provided a timetable for his return, the recovery time has historically ranged from 2-6 months, depending on the severity of the injury. But Skubal's agent Scott Boras thinks Skubal can come back much faster than that.
Boras appeared on an episode of ESPN's "Baseball Tonight" podcast published on Monday, May 11, telling host Buster Olney that Skubal underwent a new surgical procedure that could significantly reduce his recovery time. The procedure, performed by Dr. Neal ElAttrache, differs significantly from a standard arthroscopic procedure, with Boras explaining how Dr. ElAttrache used a "needle-sized" device that allowed him to perform the surgery with greater precision than he could have before.
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"He can put the scope in and it has a camera at the end of it that gives him a 120-degree look at everything where he can be precise about where the bone chip was, and he could do this in a way that would not interrupt the tissue as a normal arthroscope would," Boras said.
"[Dr. ElAttrache] essentially went in and was able to see the particle, extract it, and in effect the consequence was that it was like Tarik had an injection, because the needle is so small."
The procedure, which Boras called the "Skubal Scope," could allow Skubal to ramp up more quickly than before and return in "less than half" the time originally thought – though Boras didn't provide a specific timeframe for Skubal's recovery.
Q&A
What type of surgery did Tarik Skubal undergo?
Tarik Skubal underwent surgery to remove a bone chip from his left elbow.
How long is the typical recovery time for Skubal's surgery?
The typical recovery time for this type of surgery historically ranges from 2 to 6 months.
What new technique was used in Tarik Skubal's surgery?
Dr. Neal ElAttrache used a 'needle-sized' device that allows for greater precision during the surgery.
Who is Tarik Skubal's agent and what did he say about the recovery?
Tarik Skubal's agent is Scott Boras, who believes Skubal can return much faster than the typical recovery time.
