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Washington, DC – February 10: Victor Wembanyama #1 of the San Antonio Spurs celebrates after one … [+]
Traces announced Thursday that Victor Wembanyama, the young 7-foot-5 star of the team, who has conquered the NBA storm-penny, has a deep vein thrombosis-in his right shoulder. Because this condition can jeopardize both his life and his health, he started treatment and was put on the disabled list for the rest of the 2024-25 season. This is why that was the right call.
A deep vein thrombosis is a dangerous condition at any age. The loss of the new star of the team is a huge setback for the Spurs, which has just taken over one-Star Guard De’aaron Fox to strengthen their play-off push. Wembanyama, who played well in his first All-Star performance in San Francisco last weekend, is already considered one of the top players of the competition and was considered by many to be the opportunities the chances of defending player of the year win. Now he is not playing enough games this season to be eligible for the prize. But that loss in the short term will probably extend its time on the field and possibly his life-before in the coming years.
Wembanyamas Deep vein thrombosis is not the first in the NBA
At least four other NBA players – The Detroit Pistons ‘Ausar Thompson, the Toronto Raptors’ Brandon Ingram, the Christian Koloko by Los Angeles Lakers and Hall of Famer Chris Bosh – have developed DVTs. Wembanyama’s situation remembered Much of Bosh, who contracted a DVT at the height of his career shortly after the All-Star Break 2015. Bosh had to be admitted to the hospital because several clots were freely vomited and eventually housed in his lungs. Unfortunately, he was forced to retire the following year after he had developed a second DVT. At that time it was clear that he had to remain anticoagulation medication (called blood thinners) and therefore could no longer play in the NBA.
Bosh believes that extensive competition -related trips was the main cause of his blood clots, and he is probably right. Long spells to sit at airports and aircraft is a common story in patients who come to the one or more clots in their legs – or worse, proof that a clot has been broken and traveled through the bloodstream to be in the lungs To awake, a serious condition called a pulmonary embolo.
But as Tom Habersstroh, a contributing writer for Yahoo Sports, notesThere is an important difference between Bosh’s blood clots and the one who has Wembanyama. Bosh’s clots developed in his legs. The blood clot of Wembanyama is in the shoulder of his shooting arm.
That can be good news for Wembanyama, depending on what happens next.
What causes deep venous thrombosis?
There are various medical conditions (including certain blood disorders and some cancers) that increase the risk of DVT. Some medicines can cause blood clots as side effects. A clot that influences the Subclavian vein (the most important vein that blood removes from the arm) can occur after introducing a large IV catheter or a cardiac pacemaker. None of these conditions are probably culprits in the Wembanyama case.
When an arm clot develops spontaneously in a young, otherwise healthy individual, in particular a very conditioned athlete such as Wembanyama, it is usually due to subtle but significant anatomical variations of adjacent bones, tendons or muscles. This allows a condition that doctors call the thoracic outlet syndrome. These anatomical variations can immediately compress or squeeze the large vein that drains blood from the arm, often at the point that it passes under the above -lying collarbone (collarbone). Overhead movement can make this process worse, and the task of Wembanyama includes a lot of overhead movement to block, return and take photos in games and during training.
Treatment with deep vein thrombosis
I recommend the Spurs staff to diagnose his condition, immediately starting with anticoagulants (clot prevention) medication and immediately puts him on the disabled list. In some cases, patients benefit from receiving thrombolytic (clot relief) medication, but that decision depends on a careful assessment of different clinical factors and a discussion between the doctor and the patient with regard to possible benefits and risks. In other cases, doctors prescribe clot prevention medication to prevent further structure and to rely on the natural processes of the body to gradually resolve what is already there.
Making an All-Star player for the rest of the season is a huge loss for every team that fights for the NBA title. Anyway, the Spurs chose to put his health and future over their current needs.
Upper arm clots, such as those in the legs, can break loose and travel to the lungs as a dangerous (and potentially deadly) pulmonary embolus. If Wembanyama had contracted a PE while playing in the All-Star game, he might have collapsed into the field. If he tried to play again before his health is fully recovered, the risk would be too great.
In addition, patients who use anticoagulation medicine are not allowed to participate in contact sports because the risk of internal bleeding is too great. Although basketball is theoretically not considered a ‘contact sport’, everyone who has viewed an NBA game for more than five minutes will tell you differently. This explains the seasonal shift from Wembanyama to the disabled list.
Deep vein thrombosis recovery – which means the future of Wembanyama
What happens next could determine his athletic future. If the underlying problem is in fact the thoracic outlet syndrome, it will almost certainly undergo surgery to illuminate it. The risks associated with this type of procedure are generally low and the potential for a good recovery and the return to play is high.
This is exactly what happened when Ingram, when plays ahead for the Los Angeles Lakers, was diagnosed with an arm DVT In 2019. He was treated with Anticoagulants, then underwent surgery and recovered his earlier form. Excused by the Lakers on the New Orleans Pelicans, he was so effective the following year that he played in the All-Star game and was named the most improved player of the competition. On February 6, 2025, Ingram was traded to the Toronto Raptors, where he signed A three -year contract extension of $ 120 million.
If the functioning of Wembanyama reveals an anatomical cause of his deep vein thrombosis, he will probably opt for surgery. If this is not the case, the next steps in his treatment and his future in the long term will be certain in the NBA lesser.
I don’t bet on sports or anything else, but if I did, my money would be back to the NBA next season on Wembanyam’s return after successful recovery from his deep venous thrombosis. And given the actions of the Spurs, I am convinced that he will not bear the uniform of another team.