Skinner has surgery, ACL not torn
By Tim Packman, Turner Sports Interactive
July 19, 2001
11:13 AM EDT (1513 GMT)
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. - Mike Skinner had his fractured left ankle operated on Wednesday morning. Doctors also said the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) that was originally thought torn, was just an aggravation of a 1998 injury.
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Mike Skinner
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Dr. Craig M. Hankins, of Hankins Orthopedic Center in Daytona Beach, Fla., performed the surgery. He put two titanium screws in the driver of the No. 31 Chevrolet's left ankle.
"The healing process takes some time whenever there's an ankle fracture because you also have a sprain or strain of the ligaments," Dr. Hankins said. "With any surgery, there's going to be some swelling. I'll see Mike again Friday to evaluate the swelling of the ankle and prescribe his rehabilitation process. I'll have Mike back in the race car as soon as possible."
The doctor chose titanium screws to expedite the healing and rehabilitation process. One was 42 mm long and the other was 30 mm long with each screw being four millimeters in diameter.
Skinner's injuries, which also included a mild concussion, occurred during Sunday's Tropicana 400 at the new Chicagoland Speedway. While running fourth on lap 23, he cut a right-front tire and slammed into the wall in Turns 1 and 2.
"Mike aggravated an old, chronic ACL injury from 1998," Dr. Hankins continued. "The left knee suffered a medial cruciate ligament (MCL) strain, which will heal with the ankle. Mike will have a knee brace to assist in the healing of the MCL but there are no plans for any surgery for his ACL. However, that may need to be addressed later."
Skinner is expected to be out of the car for at least the next two weeks and doctors expect a speedy recovery.
"I'm pretty sore right now but everything went great today," Skinner said. "It's going to be difficult for me to get out of the Lowe's Chevy but I'm going to do what the doctor told me and rest up this weekend. But you can only hold me down so long -- I'm already ready to climb back in the Lowe's Chevy and am going to do my best to be back soon."
In the meantime, driver-for-hire Robby Gordon will fill in for the Richard Childress Racing-owned ride. He takes over for this weekend's New England 300 at New Hampshire International Speedway.
Gordon will also test the car at Indianapolis Speedway next Tuesday and Wednesday.
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