Phillies Zack Wheeler Season-Ending Surgery
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Zack Wheeler to Undergo Thoracic Outlet Decompression Surgery
Table of Contents
What Happened?
Philadelphia Phillies pitcher Zack Wheeler has been diagnosed with thoracic outlet syndrome and will require additional surgery, the team announced on Saturday, August 26, 2023. This surgery is expected to sideline him for six to eight months.
The diagnosis came after a follow-up evaluation following a procedure on Monday to remove a blood clot from his upper right arm.A second opinion recommended thoracic outlet decompression surgery in the coming weeks. This surgery poses a threat to wheeler’s ability to start the 2026 season on time.
Understanding Thoracic outlet Syndrome
thoracic outlet syndrome is a condition where bones or muscles in the upper chest, near the shoulder, compress blood vessels and/or nerves. This compression can cause pain, numbness, and weakness in the arm and hand. Repetitive arm movements, common in sports like baseball and swimming, are a frequent cause, according to the Cleveland Clinic.
Symptoms of Thoracic Outlet Syndrome
- Pain in the shoulder, neck, and arm
- Numbness or tingling in the fingers and hand
- Weakness in the arm and hand
- Swelling of the arm or hand
- Discoloration of the hand
Decompression Surgery Explained
Decompression surgery aims to relieve the pressure on the nerves and blood vessels. This typically involves removing bone or tissue that is causing the constriction. The specific surgical approach depends on the location and cause of the compression.
The Timeline of Events
Wheeler had been experiencing some shoulder soreness for several starts. Though, after reporting he felt “normal” following his start in Washington on August 15th, he later began experiencing a “heaviness” in his shoulder. Phillies trainers decided to have him evaluated due to this unusual symptom.
The evaluation, conducted by the Washington Nationals’ team doctors, revealed the blood clot. The team believes the clot was an acute onset and not directly related to the previous shoulder soreness.
“He wasn’t exhibiting any of the symptoms that ultimately drove us to get the Washington Nationals docs involved. They were great. They expedited everything,” said paul Buchheit, the Phillies’ head athletic trainer. ”But we do think they were autonomous. Typically these things have a cluster of symptoms or symptom patterns and he wasn’t exhibiting any of those until we had him evaluated.”
Impact on the Phillies
This injury is a significant blow to the Phillies’ pitching rotation. Wheeler is a key starter, and his absence will be felt throughout the remainder of the 2023 season and potentially into 2024 and beyond. The Phillies will need to rely on their other starting pitchers and potentially explore options for adding depth to the rotation.