MovieChat Forums > Hoop Dreams (1994) Discussion > Williams knee injury. Did he really need...

Williams knee injury. Did he really need surgery the first time?

posted 16 years ago by DegrassiFan08
2 replies | jump to latest

I remember either in the commentary or an interview that William said the first surgery didn't even need to happen. He could have still played without it.

I mean sewing the cartilege back just seems wrong imo. They'd have to be really strong stiches to withstand all the bending,movement,and shock the knee takes/absorbs. Yes cartilege is there to help joints from scraping together but sewing it back just seemed odd. I guess it was all they could do back then. NOw I think they had some type of synthetic/fake stuff they can use.

Does anyone else have an opinion?

[–] tjer4003 15 years ago

from what i remember from the film and commentary was that the first procedure used on william's knee was not the best route and that the second procedure was much more effective. it's too bad he didn't see the bull's team doctor or someone with the same recommendation the first time.

[–] KSzir 8 years ago

He needed the surgery, what he shouldn't have done is rush back to play on it before it was fully healed. The coach should have known better and kept him out. Of course the kid is going to want to play and can't comprehend the long-term impact of playing when the knee wasn't fully healed. Had he just sat out and fully rehabbed his junior year, he likely wouldn't have required the second surgery.