BehindTheMedspeak: 'Successful' surgery and its discontents

Some years ago I remarked on the use of the term "successful surgery" as a blanket description of any operation performed on someone famous.

So I'm bemused to find I'm not the only skeptic.

Read Paul Needell's column in yesterday's New Jersey Star-Ledger; it follows.

So much for New England Patriots QB Tom Brady's 'successful' knee surgery

It's one of our favorite expressions. Athlete undergoes surgery, and his team immediately announces it was "successful." As if anyone really knows until the rehab is complete and the athlete is back on the field, good as new.

The New England Patriots have been burned big-time in regards to the season-ending left-knee surgery superstar QB Tom Brady underwent last month. Brady opted to have his major reconstruction done by a West Coast doctor preferred by his family instead of the team's medical staff, which is his right.

Sadly, the surgery — in which a patellar tendon was used to replace his shredded anterior cruciate ligament — was far from a success. The Boston Herald first reported and ESPN.com has confirmed that three follow-up surgical procedures to rid the knee of infection have been performed.

It's possible the ACL replacement/reconstruction may even have to be repeated, if the infection has ruined the original surgery. In that case, Brady's rehab could be set back by "months," according to an ESPN.com source, impacting mightily on his goal to be ready in plenty of time for training camp next summer.

That may be extreme, though. Players who undergo knee reconstructions as late as December or January have recovered in time for the following training camp in recent years. Nonetheless, the Pats are understandably distressed that Brady went his own way in choosing a surgeon and now that doctor is working more closely with the team's medical staff.

Coach Bill Belichick doesn't meet with the media on Thursdays, so this statement from him on Brady released last Saturday has to do for now:

"Since Tom Brady suffered an unfortunate knee injury in our season opener on September 7, we have been in constant consultation with him and he has our complete support."