NEW YORK, NEW YORK - JULY 17: Chris Sale #41 of the Boston Red Sox leaves the field with a dislocated pinky finger after getting hit by a line drive from Aaron Hicks of the New York Yankees in the first inning at Yankee Stadium on July 17, 2022 in the Bronx borough of New York City. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)Getty Images
One day after a line drive broke the pinky finger on Chris Sale’s left hand, the Red Sox left-hander underwent surgery Monday, according to the team.
The Red Sox announced that Sale underwent an open reduction and internal fixation of a left fifth finger proximal phalanx fracture. The procedure was performed by Dr. Matthew Leibman at the Newton-Wellesley Outpatient Surgery Center in Wellesley, MA. The procedure is usually done to insert hardware (like pins, plates, rods or screws) to piece bone fragments together. The fact Sale underwent surgery does not rule out a potential return in 2022, according to a team source.
Dr. Chris Geary, an orthopedic surgeon at Signature Healthcare in Brockton, explained the procedure on Twitter.
“This means it was a displaced/unstable fracture, so they had to open it, put it back into alignment and fix it with hardware - hence the “open reduction internal fixation,’” Geary tweeted. “This aligns the bone and allows it to heal but doesn’t make the healing any faster.
“I don’t think he’ll be able to throw for about six weeks - he can simulate the throwing motion and keep his shoulder strong but probably at least 4-6 weeks until he is allowed to pick up a ball,” Geary added. “Given that he wasn’t stretched out before, I doubt he’ll be good to go this year.”
Here’s a description of the procedure from the Orthopedic Specialists of Southwest Florida.
“When bones are displaced, unstable, or broken in multiple places, orthopedic surgery will sometimes be necessary to ensure the bone heals properly. Not all bones heal with a simple cast, splint, or sling. In open reduction/internal fixation (ORIF) surgery, an orthopedic surgeon uses a 2-step process to knit the bone fragments together. ORIF surgeries can help reduce pain, restore mobility, and realign broken bones. The “open reduction” starts with the surgeon using an incision to access the bone and realign it, so it heals properly. Next, the “internal fixation” involves piecing the bone fragments together with hardware such as pins, plates, rods, screws, or a combination of these. You will be under general anesthesia for ORIF surgery.”
Sale was hit in the hand with a line drive that came off Aaron Hicks’ bat at 106.7 mph in the first inning Sunday and immediately left the game. He did not rule out a return this season though projected he would be shut down from throwing for 4-6 weeks.
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