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Boyle's Surgery Termed Successful

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By ERIK ERLENDSSON, The Tampa Tribune

Published: September 24, 2007

Updated: 09/24/2007 12:12 am

TAMPA - The damage to Lightning defenseman Dan Boyle's left wrist turned out to be three times worse than originally diagnosed.

Boyle had surgery Sunday at University Community Hospital, where it was discovered he severed three tendons in his wrist during a freak accident following Saturday's 2-1 preseason loss to Washington. Tampa Bay's top defensemen is expected to miss four to six weeks.
Team physician Ira Guttentag assisted on the one-hour surgery, which was performed by Richard Gray, the team's hand specialist. Guttentag said the surgery went 'perfectly.'

'There were the three torn tendons, the ones which attach to the thumb that power the thumbs-up sign,' Guttentag said. 'It was a clean cut down to the bone, which made it easy to repair.'

Guttentag said Boyle will be fitted with a dynamic brace, which will keep the thumb from overstretching while still allowing flexibility, or 'protected movement,' of the thumb. Boyle will begin rehabilitation Tuesday and be able to return to the ice immediately, though he will not be permitted to handle a stick.

Should Boyle miss four weeks, he would be ready to return the week of Oct. 21, meaning he would miss the season's first six games. Should he be out six weeks, Boyle would not return until early November and could miss 13 or more games.

His presence on the blue line will be sorely missed. As the quarterback on the power play and a catalyst on offense, the second-team All-Star was among the league's ice-time leaders last season, when he had career highs in goals (20) and points (63). His spot on the opening-night roster likely will be filled by Doug Janik, Matt Smaby, Mike Lundin or Bryce Lampman, the four remaining defensemen in camp who were competing for the No. 6 spot on defense.

Boyle's role, however, will be more difficult to fill. Though Paul Ranger and Filip Kuba are capable of producing points, neither has Boyle's ability to carry the puck up the ice. Shane O'Brien likely will see an increase in responsibility, while Brad Lukowich likely will take some of Boyle's ice time.

Boyle was injured following Saturday's game when he was talking with Janik in the locker room while taking off his uniform. When Boyle closed the lid to his locker seat, his skate fell of its hook about 2 feet above the seat and landed on his left wrist, severing the tendons. He immediately left the locker room to seek medical attention.

Boyle's injury is the latest in a long line hampering Tampa Bay during training camp:

•Jan Hlavac missed two days of practice and a preseason game after taking a puck off his foot;

•Andre Roy missed two days of practice after he bruised his tailbone when he lost his balance and fell into the open door along the bench in the final scrimmage;

•Chris Gratton took a stick to the eye on his second shift of Wednesday's preseason opener and has missed three days;

•Michel Ouellet left Wednesday's game with a hamstring strain and has not practiced since, although he has resumed skating on his own;

•Ryan Craig was scratched Saturday with back spasms;

•Vinny Lecavalier left early in the second period Saturday with an undisclosed upper-body injury, although the move was considered precautionary and he is not expected to miss any time.

The rash of injuries is something the Lightning have been fortunate to steer clear of in recent seasons.

'I was talking to prospective owner Oren Koules after Saturday's game and I told him that we are on 'Saw' whatever the franchise is on right now, I don't know if it's 96 or 24,' Lightning general manager Jay Feaster said. 'We've had more injuries in this training camp than we've had in the last four years combined. We can't seem to get everybody together.'

Reporter Erik Erlendsson can be reached at (813) 259-7835 or eerlendsson@tampatrib.com.

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