AMHERST, Mass. – Ben Simmons underwent successful surgery on Tuesday in New York to repair the acute Jones fracture in the fifth metatarsal bone of his right foot.
The 76ers' first overall pick is still expected to be sidelined three months, according to a source. However, some believe the team would be wise to sit the franchise player the entire season.
The Sixers had a lot of excitement heading into this season until Simmons suffered the injury when he stepped on the foot of rookie power forward Shawn Long on Friday, the final day of training camp. The team would have been lucky to win 25 to 27 games with him. Now, there’s a sense that the Sixers will struggle to win 20.
The typical recovery time for a Jones fracture is six to eight weeks. Teams usually add two to three weeks for recovery time. He'll be out around three months, just to make sure an eager-to-play Simmons won't be rushed back.
Jones fractures or Zone 1 fractures occur at the intersection between the base and the shaft of the fifth metatarsal. The fracture is named for a surgeon, Robert Jones, who suffered that injury and first described it in a medical journal in 1902.
With a Jones fracture, there's a higher probability of refracturing the bone compared to a Zone 1 fracture, also known as an avulsion or "chip" fracture.
Cameron Payne might be a prime example of someone rushing back too quickly from a Jones fracture.
The Oklahoma City guard suffered an acute fracture in the fifth metatarsal in his right foot Tuesday. The fracture is not related to the stress fracture Payne suffered during the season. But it makes you wonder whether he came back too soon from surgery July 25 to repair a Jones fracture.
Kevin Durant is another example. A Jones fracture was diagnosed in his right foot before the start of the 2014-15 season. He made his debut on Dec. 2, 2014 after missing the first 16 games.
The injury led him to have more injuries that season and ultimately cut his year short. He missed time later in December after injuring his ankle. Then he sprained his left big toe in January. On Feb. 22, he was sidelined after having a minor procedure to help reduce pain and discomfort in his surgically repaired foot. On March 27, he was ruled out for the rest of the season after deciding to undergo foot surgery.
Martin O’Malley performed the surgery. He is the associate attending orthopedic surgeon and fellowship director of the foot and ankle service at the Hospital for Special Surgery in New York. Sixers team doctor Jonathan Glashow assisted in the surgery.
Follow and contact 76ers beat writer Keith Pompey on Twitter and on Instagram at PompeyOnSixers.
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