Smith and Stewart making progress

[Woodie]

Thought I'd share some good info on the status of Stewart's and Smitty's injuries by ESPN's resident medical expert.

The good news is that the surgery (performed by Dr. Robert Anderson, a leading foot and ankle specialist who is also one of the Panthers team doctors and who operated on Stewart's right big toe in 2008) has been a resounding success. According to Panthers head athletic trainer Ryan Vermillion, all imaging shows excellent healing, and Stewart feels much better than he did this time last year.

Smith told me he feels "good and confident" in how the arm is now on what he calls the "second go-round." He explained this by saying that the arm feels better now at eight weeks post-op (since the second surgery) than it did at seventeen weeks after the first surgery. Smith attributes this improvement to feeling "improved stability" from the additional hardware he had implanted in June. He has a visible six-inch scar on his outer forearm from the first surgery. Smith described the location of the first break, the result of a blow from the helmet of New York Giants' safety Michael Johnson, as being "in the middle" of the bone, while the second fracture occurred "at the end of the plate" (the typical failure spot in a secondary break of this type). Following the second surgery, a secondary plate was implanted. He demonstrated the flexibility of his wrist and forearm (which was back to normal) and insisted that his trademark stiff-arm will not be affected because his methodical and diligent rehab is helping restore his own confidence in that arm. Smith added that he often carries the ball on the left and is "able to stiff-arm with both arms, so this really doesn't change anything."

Confidence aside, the Panthers medical staff is taking an extra precaution to help protect that forearm. Vermillion has designed a customized graphite splint for Smith (Vermillion crafted it by casting a mold from Smith's forearm) which will serve as an additional means of protection against direct blows like the one that caused the initial injury. The splint creates a hard shell over the forearm but is unique because it leaves the wrist and hand free so that Smith can perform all of his receiver duties with ease. While the splint can't protect against the force of a fall on an outstretched arm (reportedly how Smith suffered the second injury), Vermillion says that the good news is that the bone shows full healing, so there's no reason to expect any increased risk of re-injury.

http://espn.go.com/sports/fantasy/blog/_/name/bell_stephania/month/august-2010

[Future of the Funchise]

cool

[EMSMedic79]

Good to hear on both.

[bigjohn]

Good stuff.

A healthy Smith and Stew, along with using our tight ends and Dwill catching a few out of the backfield might make us forget about a number 2 receiver.

Hahahahahahahaha!

[lightsout]

hell yea. smith has a darth vader arm now, with armor and all. sick!

I only demand that Michael Johnson plays so when Smith makes him look like a retard he can say "Michael...I am your father."

[The Don]

And it's got a Nike symbol engraved in the side of it. I saw it before they put it on. It's F'ing badass.

[Wither]

I hope that on Tuesday my broken bone news is as good as Smiths.