Uate escapes surgery, back next season November 19, 2008
Fiji Bati flyer Akuila Uate is delighted with news handed to him by his doctors – he will not undergo the knife as earlier feared and will be back to join Newcastle Knights in the start of next season.
"I was really excited when James O'Sullivan told me the news that I don't need an operation,” the 21-year old Votua native from Nadroga told Newcastle Herald.
Knights officials took Uate to the hospital straight after he was tackled by Australian halfback Jonathon Thurston in the Bati 52-0 loss of the RLWC semi final.
Scans and X-rays have confirmed that Uate broke his right ankle, Knights medical officer Neil Halpin saying he had fractured the lateral malleolus, the small protruding bone on the outside of his right ankle, that could be treated without surgery.
"He'll be in a splint for two weeks, then we'll send him for another X-ray then we'll put it in plaster, but we should get by without the need for surgery," Halpin said.
Uate had a CAT scan on Monday then saw foot specialist James O'Sullivan yesterday for a second opinion, and both doctors agreed to "treat him conservatively".
"If everything goes according to plan, he should be back in full training in about 10 weeks, so he'll be right for the start of next season.
"It is a nasty fracture. It's right on the joint and it's undisplaced, but we don't believe it needs to be pinned or plated so we're going to treat him conservatively."
Halpin was confident that once the injury had healed and Uate had regained full fitness, he would not lose any of his blistering speed.
“I'm going to do exactly what he tells me and what Neil Halpin tells me and do everything I can for it," Uate said. "I've got to rest it for two weeks then have another X-ray, but they think I should be right to play at the start of next season.
"It's been a big few weeks for me. I'm still disappointed, but that's the way it goes."
Getting used to crutches is Uate’s major concern for now but DVDs will keep him company and his mind off the game during his recovery.
"I'm just keeping my leg up and trying not to put too much weight on it," he said.
"I don't really get bored so I'm going to watch a lot of DVDs for the next two weeks."
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