By R. Inkrat, Special to the New England Journal of Medicine
Doctors at the New England Hospital for Aged Athletes recently performed radical new surgery on injured Morning Hockey Club Goalie Glenn Michaels to repair a torn quadriceps muscle.
"Usually for a patient Glenn's age euthanasia would be the treatment of choice for any serious sports injury," said surgical team leader Dr. Sanjay Gufbahal. "But this is something we have been wanting to try to see if it works, so we figured, what the heck why not?"
According to the surgical team, Michaels (pictured above during the procedure) was a real trooper as the surgeon sawed off his leg. “The operation was a complete success,” said Gufbahal. "He really didn’t need that leg anyway. I believe a regimen of physical therapy and regular bleedings should have him up on his other foot in no time."
After Consulting with the NHL and hockey experts, it was decided to call the configuration of a one-legged goalie resulting from this surgery a "6-hole." Since the area of the missing leg is next to the 5-hole, which no longer exists, the term seems appropriate.
Michaels said, “I consider myself fortunate to have had the best surgical care available.” He thanked MHC GM Gerry Nadeau for his recommendation the crack team at the NEHAA's Nadeau Experimental Surgery Division.
“I thought the surgery would hurt,” Michaels noted. “Actually, it hurt less than Leo ("the Lion" Iacopucci) scoring on me." He added, "And I wish Gerry had turned in some of those 4 and 5 goal games when I was playing.”
Sports Medicine specialists from around the globe are expected to confer regarding Michaels' case when they gather in Portland this fall for the International Conference on Geriatric Athlete Injuries. Meanwhile MHC fans worldwide continue to wish Michaels a speedy recovery.
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