What's Wrong with Roddy B?

So, where’s Roddy B. Yeah, he’s supposedly coming back soon but man, it’s taken awhile. Why? Well, let’s chat. Roddy sustained a fracture to his 5th metatarsal (small toe) in early August while playing with the French national team. Yes, we’ve heard the news. But, why is it February and he’s not back?
Commonly known as a Jones Fracture (named after a British orthopedic surgeon), the proximal location of this fracture on the side of the foot is a tricky area for healing. Because of its lateral placement, lack of ample blood supply, and the articulation, the healing time for these fractures can be very stubborn in reaching total resolution, and has to be monitored closely due to risk of bony callous (not attractive with the women or helpful in performance for a professional athlete).
This area is known as a “watershed” location by medical professionals. Simply put, it is one of those areas that require more time to heal because of the lack of nutrition, cellular materials, and substrates to start the healing process that would be brought by an adequate blood supply. With this factor, as well as a stress induced ankle and foot sport like basketball, it’s why Roddy B is chilling. Many times this type of injury lessens in pain within a couple of weeks and wearing a protective boot or cast, however the pain returns upon transition to weight bearing activity becoming a complicated re-injured site. Surgery then proceeds and the process starts all over again. It’s the “rather safe than sorry” approach prescribed for Roddy and hopefully Barea keeps putting up some decent numbers in his absence. Sure would be nice to see Frenchy back well before the Feb 24th timetable and give the Mavs a boost heading into the backstretch.

Dr. Robert B. Deevers is a former professional baseball player in the Milwaukee Brewer’s farm system. Dr. Deevers brings his sports background together with his clinical insight of athletic injuries and treatment to the d-fdub.