The microfracture surgery is designed to create scar tissue that replaces the damaged articular cartilage. This is done by drilling small holes in the bone closest to the damaged cartilage, this causes blood flow and scar tissue formation, hopefully curing the problem. In the case of Oden, where the damage was apparently small, the surgical procedure should work well.
The Trailblazers are absolutely doing the right thing in shutting him down for the year. Beyond the articular cartilage damage are another set of nagging injuries that haven't cleared up due to lack of proper care and rest (likely as a result of the forced year of college servitude, had he gone straight to the NBA he'd have been better off). With a year's recovery time for the knee and his assorted injuries, he should be the odds-on-favorite to win Rookie of the Year next season.
Stoudemire made a full recovery, but pressure to get back within a year led to an injury in his right knee (likely caused by favoring the injured left knee). Kenyon Martin suffered a more catastrophic problem as a result of his rush to return (requiring microfracture surgery on the other knee, as a result). Portland has experience with this sort of recovery, having already been through this with Zach Randolph (who has actually been more athletic since having the surgery).
Portland's sidelining Oden for the year is an illustration of their experience with the problem. All told this won't be Oden's rookie of the year campaign. And Portland's caution in dealing with him might mean that he won't win it next year, either. But people should end the Sam Bowie talk, because it's premature and unwarranted.
Article comments
1 - Tan The Man
Surgeons are better at microfracture surgery than before. It's baseball's Tommy John surgery. It also helps that Oden is so young. Jason Kidd is another player who successfully recovered from it.