Monday, January 7, 2002
[ UH WARRIOR FOOTBALL ]
Hawaii quarterback Tim Chang expects to be able to throw a football in four months after successful surgery last week on his injured right wrist. Surgery a success, Chang
expects to throw in 4 monthsBy Dave Reardon
dreardon@starbulletin.comPins were inserted in Chang's wrist during a procedure in Los Angeles performed Thursday by hand surgeon Norman Zemel.
Chang is wearing a soft cast. He said the stitches from the surgery will be removed in two weeks.
He said the pins, which were inserted to repair ligament damage, will be taken out in two months.
"Then the rehab goes," Chang told the Star-Bulletin yesterday.
"Everything went fine. Things are looking in the right direction. I woke up with a splitting headache after the operation, but that was just from the anesthesia. I got off the painkillers after one day."
Chang won't be able to throw in time for spring practice, but he plans to meet this week with physical therapist Patrick Ariki to set up a rehabilitation program.
"I just came back from some running and leg drills," Chang said. "If I can't throw, at least I can try to do some things to improve other parts of my game."
Chang injured the wrist when he fell on it late in Hawaii's loss to Rice on Sept. 29. Initial tests were inconclusive about the extent of the damage, and Chang did not play the rest of the season. He threw at times in practice, but experienced swelling after.
Chang, a Star-Bulletin all-state selection from St. Louis School, was named Western Athletic Conference Freshman of the Year after the 2000 season.
Since he played in only three of UH's 12 games last season, he will likely regain his sophomore season with a medical hardship appeal to the NCAA.
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Ka Leo O Hawaii
