Frosh Kinsey to miss 10 to 14 days

By Gary Bedore     Nov 22, 2000

Kansas freshman Mario Kinsey had surgery on his lower right leg on Oct. 17 to repair a case of anterior compartment syndrome.

On Tuesday, Kinsey had surgery for the same condition in his lower left leg. Kinsey, who missed about a week of practice after the procedure on his right leg, is slated to miss between 10 and 14 days of action, KU coach Roy Williams said Tuesday.

“Mario (Kinsey) really wants to get this situation to where he does not have the pain.”

Roy Williams

Kinsey figures to miss upcoming games against Washburn (Saturday), Middle Tennessee State (Monday) and Illinois State (Nov. 30).

KU travels to Wake Forest on Dec. 7 and DePaul on Dec. 12.

Anterior compartment syndrome is similar to a severe case of shin splints.

KU doctor Ken Wertzberger on Tuesday opened Kinsey’s lower left leg to release pressure, then closed the leg with staples.

Wertzberger explained Kinsey’s anterior compartment syndrome woes:

“Six weeks ago, Mario had a sudden onset of acute anterior compartment syndrome of his right lower leg during practice,” Wertzberger said.

“This necessitated a compartment release. He had no symptoms on his left side at the time. He has recovered quickly on the right side.

“After returning to practice, he has developed similar symptoms now on the left,” Wertzberger added. “Multiple attempts at diminishing his practice schedule and repetitions have failed, as once he increases his playing time, the symptoms return.

“It has been decided by all concerned that prior to Big 12 Conference and before this turns into an emergency situation, such as the right, that a left anterior compartment syndrome be performed now on a more elective basis. A similar recovery period would be expected.”

Unchecked, anterior compartment syndrome can cause things such as club foot because of a loss of blood flow in the leg.

“I’m disappointed, but happy to get it taken care of,” Kinsey said after playing 15 minutes in Monday’s game against Boise State despite feeling painful “cramps” in his lower left leg.

“I want to get it taken care of so I’ll be back pain free ready to help the team.”

Kinsey has played in all four of the Jayhawks’ games this season, and is averaging 2.0 points and 1.3 rebounds in 15.5 minutes per game.

“We had one other player, Mark Randall who had it. He was out four days,” KU coach Williams said. “Mario … part of his was caused from going straight from football to basketball.”

A scholarship football player, Kinsey practiced with KU football from August until Oct. 13.

“Mario really wants to get this situation to where he does not have the pain,” Williams said.

Williams tried to describe the procedure: “If you can imagine a cake rising … it’s what happens when you slice open that shinbone,” Williams said. “Like a cake it goes poof. The pressure immediately gets released down there, then they close it up with staples. There is immediate relief of the pain.”

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KU senior Kenny Gregory, who battled a bad back his first three years at KU, still has occasional back problems.

He asked out of the Boise State game early Monday so he could stretch his back.

“Kenny had three defensive errors in first three minutes. He wasn’t moving very well defending the (Abe) Jackson kid,” Williams said. “He stretched it, loosened it up and did much better. He’s fought it pretty well his entire career.”

Gregory finished with 25 points and 11 boards in 27 minutes.

As far as the coach’s own sore back?: “I am like Kenny somewhat, very disciplined doing stretching,” Williams said. “I’ve had a couple bad nights in practice situations. I had a tough day after New York (trip). You’ve just got to keep going.”


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