U.S. Sen. Akaka
to get ankle surgery
U.S. Sen. Daniel Akaka is scheduled to have minor surgery today at the Queen's Medical Center to help promote healing of an ankle injury that has become infected.
He is not expected to return to Washington, D.C., until the end of next month.
Akaka, who will turn 80 on Sept. 11, was struck on his left ankle by a golf ball during a charity golf tournament in Northern Virginia in mid-July, said Paul Cardus, the Hawaii Democrat's spokesman. Doctors treated Akaka for a bruised and swollen ankle, but X-rays indicated no broken bones.
Akaka attended the Democratic National Convention in Boston and continued with his Senate duties until he came home and was treated by his physician, Dr. Vincent Nip.
Nip recommended a skin graft to promote healing of the dime-size wound, which had become infected. The infection necessitated the removal of tissue and blood from the affected area.
Cardus said Akaka will be hospitalized at Queen's "to keep his foot immobilized so the skin graft can take."
Akaka's speaking engagements here and in Japan have been canceled, and he will remain here an estimated three to four weeks.
Akaka had his left knee replaced in August 2002 and had his right knee replaced a year earlier to treat arthritis. He had his right hip replaced in 2000, also because of arthritis.
Akaka served 14 years in the U.S. House before he was named to replace Sen. Spark Matsunaga, who died of cancer in 1990. He won the seat outright in 1994 and was re-elected in 2000. His term will end in 2006.
akaka.senate.gov
