Season’s over, but Boeser likely to make full recovery
Rookie forward sustained a type of lower back fracture that heals well
The bad news is what we already know: Brock Boeser is out for four to six weeks with a fractured transverse process suffered toward the end of Monday night’s 4-3 Canucks win over the visiting New York Islanders.
The time frame for recovery means his season is over. The good news is that as far as back injuries go, it’s really not that bad and most people make a full recovery.
As Dr. Najam Mian from Fortius Sport & Health in Burnaby explains, it’s a not-uncommon injury for athletes.
“Isolated transverse process fractures are not a serious injury,” he said. Mian is a specialist in physical medicine and rehabilitation.
“Athletes can be at higher risk to these injuries because of the twisting ... and velocities.
“The transverse process is part of the bony aspect of the spine. It’s attached to multiple ligaments and it’s commonly injured in the lumbar area.”
The transverse process is the small bony projection off the right and left side of each vertebra.
Boeser was helped off the ice in the third period after slamming into the open gate at the Canucks’ bench. The 21-year-old winger, who leads the Canucks with 29 goals and 55 points, was later transported to hospital by ambulance for further evaluation.
Rehabilitating an injury like Boeser’s — Mian is quick to point out he’s not in a position to comment directly on Boeser’s case, just on the type of injury — first requires rest and limiting movement.
“The initial goals ... are to manage the pain and not do much in the way of mobility,” he said. “Often there’s secondary muscular pain,” which can be treated using heat and cold.
“Once they can tolerate a bit of rehab, they can get into strengthening the muscles of the lower back, then slowly progress into sports-specific activity.”
The injury rarely results in neurologic issues, since the damage is not to the spinal cord, though its proximity often worries patients.
“The most common thing people are concerned about are neurologic
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injuries because it runs so close to the spinal cord,” he said.
Canucks captain Henrik Sedin said it’s disappointing that Boeser’s superb first season had such an abrupt ending.
“It’s very disappointing — more so for him, he’s had a great season, but (the injury) doesn’t take away from what he’s done this year. I think this city and this franchise know what they have now, and that’s a really good player and a guy who could be a star in this league for a long time,” said Sedin.
Boeser has battled a series of injuries this season after blocking shots in October against Washington and again in December against Calgary. He also hurt his hand last month, but he’s missed only two games to injuries this season.