Despite suffering one of the most gruesome injuries in MMA history, the surgeon who operated on his shattered left leg immediately after UFC 168 this weekend says Anderson Silva could return in 2014 … if he so chooses, that is.
In a press conference hosted by the UFC on Monday evening, Dr. Steven Sanders, an orthopedic surgeon who is employed by the UFC, explained the details of “The Spider’s” broken left tibia and fibula.
"Fortunately for Anderson, the skin did not break," Sanders said. "But where could an injury like that go? An injury like that could go where, as I mentioned, the skin breaks, and now you've got this exposed bone in the environment of an Octagon, and so his risk of infection goes up meteorically,” Sanders said.
“He could have also twisted in such a different direction where he could've potentially lacerated an artery going to the foot, in which case you now have what we call vascular compromise. He could've, in that case, potentially needed a vascular reconstructive procedure to reattach an artery.”
"Injuries like this can, at times, even be limb threatening. If the fracture is severe enough, if it compromises vascular supply to the feet and vascular supply cannot be reestablished, it can result in an amputation."
Sanders emphasized that Silva would likely be able to resume MMA training in six to nine months and the legendary Brazilian competitor asked him multiple times “When can I train?” before and after the operation.
Additionally, the doctor added that Silva’s age (he turns 39 years old in April) has no impact on the recovery time for the injury.
Silva boasts a 16-2 record inside the Octagon and has been active as a professional mixed martial artist since June 1997.
His two losses to current middleweight champion Chris Weidman are his only (technical) knockout losses in his 39-fight career and holds the UFC record for most consecutive UFC middleweight title defenses (10).
Will the pound-for-pound great ever make his way back inside the cage or will Silva opt to hang up the gloves and ride off into the sunset after this unfortunate turn of events?