NBA Injuries

Are the health concerns over Michael Porter Jr. warranted?

Published

3 years ago

June 13, 2018

NBA hopeful and University of Missouri’s Michael Porter Jr. is watching his draft stock soar. However, not without questions regarding his health. Porter suffered a disc injury in his first collegiate game and subsequently underwent surgery. Let’s take a closer at his specific case:

In general, a microdiscectomy is very effective at treating herniated discs and relieving pressure on one or more of the spinal nerves in the spine.

From the standpoint of the surgery, most players are able to make a full recovery. The biggest risk is a recurrent disc herniation, with a risk of about 5%. There is nothing about a straightforward microdiscectomy that should prevent Porter from returning to the court.

Of note, the L3/4 disc may be a source of future issues in his back as he gets older, but this is difficult to predict.

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Ronnie Mimran M.D.

Dr. Mimran is board certified in neurosurgery by the American Board of Neurological Surgery. His practice focuses on surgical and non-surgical treatment of brain and spine disorders, with an emphasis on minimally invasive and image-guided techniques for the spine. He has a broad experience with the neurosurgical care of the injured athlete and serves as a consultant for multiple different professional sports teams. Dr. Mimran received his BS in physiology from the University of California, Los Angeles, and his medical training at the University of Southern California, where he graduated with honors. He completed a residency in neurological surgery at the University of Florida. along with a clinical fellowship in minimally invasive spine surgery. Following his neurosurgical residency, Dr. Mimran moved to the Bay Area and joined the team at Pacific Brain and Spine Medical Group, in Danville, California. Dr. Mimran has received numerous awards and honors, earning the Patients’ Choice Award for seven consecutive years, and gaining recognition as a five-year honoree of the Compassionate Doctor Award, among others. He is also a leading educator in the field of minimally invasive spine surgery and navigated spine surgery, and has taught over 200 courses worldwide.