Today, Dr. Michael Ciccotti, orthopdedic surgeon and Phillies team physician, will perform a meniscectomy on the inside of Brad Lidge's knee. The procedure might just be more important than any Pat Burrell clutch hit off Billy Wagner or 6-4-3 double play turned by Jimmy Rollins, Chase Utley and Ryan Howard.
It's a relatively common procedure, done arthroscopically across the country numerous times every day and the prognosis for Lidge is quite good, just as it is with most patients who undergo the surgery.
Lidge is expected to be able to throw again in a week and then be able to take the mound in a game in three to six weeks, according to Phillies trainer Scott Sheridan. That three week difference could make, well, a big difference in the Phillies season. If Lidge misses three weeks on the nose, then he won't miss any of the regular season and all's well that ends well. However, if he misses six weeks, then for a few weeks in the season the delicate balance that is the Phillies bullpen will be upset. Think about it, Madson to Romero to Gordon to Lidge sure sounds a lot better than Some Replacement Level Guy to Madson to Romero to Gordon -- as likely a candidate to go under Ciccotti's knife sometime in the near future as anyone else in Clearwater.
Those three weeks could mean the difference between a win or three for the Phillies, which could easily mean the difference between NL East Champion, Wild Card, or playoff spectator.
Part of what will determine how much time Lidge misses is how natural a healer he is, how well he performs his rehab, and of course, how well Dr. Ciccotti does what he does. Below are several videos by another orthopedic surgeon, Dr. Allan Mishra, an adjunct clinical professor at Stanford University (coincidentally, Phillies assistant GM Ruben Amaro, Jr.'s alma mater) which will help to explain what will happen today in an operating room at Thomas Jefferson Hospital.
