Adam Fantilli's Injury Could've Been Much Worse
Adam Fantilli's Injury Could've Been Much Worse
When Adam Fantilli left the ice on one leg and hopped down the tunnel, Blue Jacket fans and hockey fans everywhere were left wondering what had happened.
The play itself didn't look too bad, so what in the world could it have been? Later in the game Blue Jackets PR put out a post on X that he had suffered a "lower-body" injury and wouldn't return. It was assumed based on the replays that a skate blade had clipped him, but no one could be sure. People were speculating it was his Achilles tendon just based on his reaction to the injury. Fans also were wondering if it was a skate blade, how deep was it? Was it going to bother him long-term and cause him issues down the road? All great questions, but we just didn't have enough information to answer them.
The next morning, CBJ Radio play-by-play man Bob McElligott said on X spaces that he saw Fantilli in a walking boot and believed he got cut by a skate blade. Finally, on the 31st the team came out with a shocking memo - Adam Fantilli would miss 8 weeks due to a calf laceration. This was a serious blow to both Fantilli and the Blue Jackets. But with all the injuries, it wasn't surprising.
People in the media, and fans everywhere were curious as to the extent of Fantilli's injury and why he was going to be out so long. The team confirmed to THN Columbus that Fantilli was wearing protective socks underneath his normal socks, so why was it so bad?
THN Columbus had the pleasure of getting a couple of questions answered by a professional from Hospital for Special Surgery at NCH in Naples, Florida. Dr. Gregory Rubin, DO is a Primary Sports Medicine Physician and is also a consultant with the ECHL's Florida Everblades. He is the team physician for Florida Gulf Coast University as well.
THN Columbus: Adam Fantilli was wearing protective socks underneath his regular socks, what can be done to prevent this injury, if anything?
Dr. Rubin: There are multiple brands that offer cut-resistant socks. Players will sometimes complain that these are uncomfortable so compliance is sometimes low. Bauer sells a Kevlar brand fiber sock but again, there is no data pointing at which type of sock is better.
THN Columbus: How often do skate lacerations happen in the NHL?
Dr. Rubin: Access to NHL data to review laceration frequency is not available. However, in a retrospective study looking at speed skater injuries, they found that of 108 total injuries the most common injury seen was lower extremity lacerations. These accounted for 11% of all injuries seen. Another study in 2006 looked at 412 injuries in synchronized skaters and found that 33 of those injuries were lower extremity lacerations.
THN Columbus: Are calf lacerations harder to deal with and treat than cuts on other parts of the body?
Dr. Rubin: There are different grades of lacerations. A superficial laceration only requiring sutures to close the skin will typically have sutures removed in 10-14 days and then a player can be ready to return to play. Calf lacerations can be difficult to treat due to the superficial nature of the Achilles tendon making it easier to lacerate with a skate. Calf lacerations can also injure the superficial nerves and lead to sensory and/or motor weakness in the leg.
THN Columbus: Adam Fantilli's recovery time is expected to be 8 weeks, is this a normal recovery time for this injury, or like any injury, does it just depend on severity?
Dr. Rubin: Based on the duration of return to play that was announced at 8 weeks, it can be assumed that there was a deeper gastrocnemius (calf muscle) injury requiring fixation. Prolonged recovery >8 weeks typically indicates a tendon injury as well.
THN Columbus: What long-term issues do players have after suffering this injury, specifically the calf?
Dr. Rubin: Local complications can occur including keloid formation, superficial nerve injury, scar tissue formation, and infection. If a muscle is lacerated, it is at risk of forming dense scar tissue even with suturing. There are different studies looking at techniques of suturing muscle lacerations to decrease the chance of scar tissue formation.
According to the NHL, Cut-resistant equipment is not mandatory in the NHL, but highly encouraged. Also of note, Any attempt to make it mandatory would require the approval of the NHL Players' Association. USA Hockey just made neck protection mandatory after the death of Adam Johnson. You can read a good piece about leg protection here.
Adam Fantilli was also seen this past weekend at the Ohio State vs. Michigan Men's hockey games, watching his brother Luca, and his good friend Gavin Brindley play. He was using a scooter to get around and to keep weight off of his injured leg. The same type of scooter you see people use when they break their ankles.
Fantilli is already a star in Columbus and will be in the league as well. Once people spotted where he was sitting in the Schottenstein Center, he was mobbed by people asking for pictures and autographs. It's important to note that while the game was going on, the ushers were keeping people away and letting him enjoy the game.
Everyone is hoping Fantilli comes back from this and is just fine. He's still young at 19 and kids seem to heal much faster.
More From THN Columbus
Join Jason Newland's Columbus Blue Jacket page on Bunches, a new app that connects sports fans. Also, you can watch a new YouTube game show about the Blue Jackets, Around the Fifth Line.