Sania undergoes knee surgery

HYDERABAD, MARCH 3:Hyderabadi tennis star Sania Mirza will spend the next three nights in hospital, with a bandage around her right knee. After a small operation, doctors in the Apollo hospital here declared that Mirza has a stretched ligament in her knee.

She pulled out of the Qatar Open earlier this week after suffering an injury during the first round of the tournament. When she returned to India, she was admitted to the hospital with extreme pain and swelling.

Dr KJ Reddy, senior consultant orthopaedic surgeon, who is overseeing Sania’s treatment said that she will be spending the next two or three days in hospital, and would not be able to play for the next four weeks at least. “Only after a fourth-week assesment we will be able to tell when she can play. I would not say her injury is severe, but moderate. She doesn’t need major reconstruction and there is no need to replace the nerve.”

Doctors performed orthoscopy on her knee this morning. A small puncture was made in her knee, and a camera inserted into her knee to survey the damaged area. Doctors found that there was a slight tear in the anterior ligament, and have said that rest will be the only way to treat the problem.

After four weeks, she would be back on a rehabilitation and exercise routine, and would slowly get back to tennis. The four-week rest period has ruled out Sania from the 2.1-million-dollar Pacific Life Open in Indian Wells, USA.

http://www.indianexpress.com