Andrew Bynum has surgery, starts rehab Friday

USA Today—March 20, 2013

One-time All-Star center Andrew Bynum had arthroscopic knee surgeries Tuesday to remove debris from both joints and will begin physical therapy Friday, the Philadelphia 76ers announced.

The 7-foot, 300-pounder, who did not appear in a game this season because of bone and cartilage damage in his knees, will refrain from any weight-bearing activities for about three weeks and will spend an additional three weeks on crutches, according to the team.

Bynum's longtime orthopedist, Dr. David Altchek of Hospital for Special Surgery in New York, performed the surgery. The primary focus of the procedure was to clean out loose bodies from the joints in an attempt to alleviate pain and swelling, according to the Sixers.

Bynum, 25, was originally diagnosed with a bone bruise in his right knee in September, a month after the Sixers acquired him from the Los Angeles Lakers in a blockbuster four-team trade in August. The Sixers nevertheless expected Bynum to be ready to play in the season opener, but as the season progressed, the team and player repeatedly delayed the date of his expected debut. Bynum was diagnosed with a "mirror issue" in his left knee in November, when a piece of cartilage broke loose and his joint swelled after going bowling.

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