When it was learned yesterday that Washington State’s leading rusher, James Montgomery, underwent season-ending surgery on Sunday, it seemed as if it was nothing more than a run-of-the-mill injury to his leg and was not given much thought given the state of the Cougars program.
As it turns out, it was anything but routine.
According to the Tacoma News Tribune, the surgery Montgomery underwent was of the emergency variety. The unseen and unknown internal damage to his leg was so severe that it was deemed life-threatening, or at the very least there was a risk that the back would’ve been facing amputation.
Trainer Bill Drake confirmed the gravity of Montgomery’s injury, adding, “There’s a lot of good news right now. His leg is saved.”
Head coach Paul Wulff said Montgomery was experiencing increased discomfort in the hours after suffering the injury. It’s believed that acute compartment syndrome, in part, led to the medical emergency. And, based on the following passage from the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons website, it’s easy to see how such a seemingly minor injury could escalate into a life-and-death situation.
While the good news is that Montgomery’s life and limb were saved, the same can’t necessarily be said for his football career. At least not yet.
According to WSU’s trainer, it will be six to 12 months before Montgomery will know whether or not he’ll be able to continue playing the game.