Chicago Bears tight end and Wahoo, Nebraska native Zach Miller underwent emergency surgery Sunday night on his left knee, which he dislocated during their game against the New Orleans Saints.
The 33 year old UNO alumni was carted off the field in the third quarter and was taken from the Mercedes-Benz Superdome to a local hospital. ESPN reports that surgeons were called in to save Miller's injured leg in which the dislocation caused severe damage to an artery.
University of Nebraska Medical Center vascular surgeon Dr. Jason Johanning says dislocations, like Miller's, need immediate attention. "If we do not perform a bypass to restore blood flow, usually within the first four to six hours, there's a high likelihood that the patient could lose their leg."
Johanning says not only is the artery a concern, but the surrounding injuries from the dislocation. He says no matter what, Miller will have a long recovery ahead of him. "Best case scenario is that blood flow is restored, he keeps his leg and they can repair the ligaments and his nerve will recover."
The next few days will be rocky for Miller, Johanning says the first few days post-op being the true test of a successful surgery. "It's literally a wait and see period over the next 48 to 72 hours to ensure that the blood flow remains stable to the foot. Usually once we get somebody through 72 hours and after, and the blood flow is stable, we can usually ensure that the leg is saved. A lot of it then relies on how the nerve respond and how the muscles respond long term, over the next three months to a year."
At last report, Miller's leg had been stabilized, and he would be staying in New Orleans for further treatment and observation.