Washington, DC – February 10: Victor Wembanyama #1 I San Antonio Spurs celebrate after one … [+]
Spurs announced on Thursday that Victor Wembanyama, the new team of the 7-foot-5 team who received the NBA from the storm, has a deep vein thrombosis-a blood clot-on the right shoulder. Because this condition can endanger his life as well as his health, he began treatment and was put on the list of disabilities for the remainder of the 2024-25 season. That is why this was the right call.
A deep vein thrombosis is a dangerous condition at any age. Losing the new team star is a major obstacle for spurs, which just once won the All-Star De’aaron Fox guard to strengthen their push on the play off. Wembanyama, who played well in his first All-Star appearance last weekend in San Francisco, is now considered one of the best players of the league and was thought of by many who were the favorites of disputes to win the defensive player Year. Now, he will not play enough games this season to be eligible for the price. But this short-term loss is likely to prolong its time in court-and potentially its life-for the following years.
Wembanyama deep vein thrombosis is not the first in NBA
At least four other NBA players – Ausar Thompson of Detroit Pistons, Brandon Ingram of Toronto Raptors, Christian Koloko of the Los Angeles Lakers’ and Hall of Fame Clea Empty – have developed DVTS. Wembanyama’s situation remembered many of the blank, who at the height of his career suffered a DVT shortly after the All-Star 2015 break. Empty had to be hospitalized because some of the clots broke away and ended up in the lungs. Sadly, he was forced to withdraw next year after he held a second DVT. At that point, it was clear that he would have to stay in anticoagulant drugs (called blood thinner) and therefore could no longer play in the NBA.
Empty believes that the broad journey associated with the league was the main cause of its blood clot, and it is likely to be right. Long landing spells at airports and on planes are a common story among patients coming to the ER with one or more clots on their feet – or worse, evidence that a clot has broken free and traveled through the bloodstream To place in the lungs, a severe condition called a pulmonary embolism.
But while Tom Haberstroh, a contributing writer for Yahoo Sports, notes, there is a major difference between empty blood clots and a wembanyama. The blank clots developed at his feet. Wembanyama’s blood tower is on the shoulder of his shooting arm.
This can be good news for Wembanyama, depending on what happens next.
What causes deep vein thrombosis?
There are several medical conditions (including certain blood disorders and some cancers) that increase the risk of DVT. Some medicines can cause blood clots as a side effect. A clot that affects the subclavian vein (the main vein that drains blood from the arm) can occur after the introduction of a large IV catheter or a cardiac cardiac. None of these conditions are likely to be the culprits in the case of Wembanyama.
When an arm clot develops spontaneously in a new, otherwise healthy individual, especially a highly conditioned athlete as wembanyama, it is most often due to delicate but significant anatomical variations of adjacent bones, tendons or muscles. This can cause a condition for doctors to refer to as chest exit syndrome. These anatomical variations can compress or drink the large vein that drains blood from the arm, often at the point passing under the overlapping collarbone (clavicle). The upper movement can make this process worse, and Wembanyama’s work involves many upper movements to block, restore and make shots in games and during practice.
Treatment of deep vein thrombosis
I praise Spurs staff for diagnosing his condition, starting immediately anticoagulant (clot preacher) and immediately placing him on the list of disabilities. In some cases, patients benefit from taking thrombolytic drugs (clots of clots), but that decision depends on a careful assessment of some clinical factors and a discussion between the physician and the patient about the benefits and the potential risks. In other cases, doctors prescribe medicines to prevent clots to prevent further creation and rely on natural processes of the body to gradually disperse what is already there.
Attracting an All-Star player to the rest of the season is a great loss for any team that is claiming for the NBA title. Regardless, the spurs decided to put his health and future ahead of their current needs.
Upper arm clots, such as those developing in the legs, can break free and travel to the lungs as a dangerous (and potentially deadly) pulmonary embolism. Had Wembanyama carrying a peak while playing in the All-Star game, he could have collapsed in court. If he would try to play again before his health is completely reset, the risk would be great.
Moreover, patients taking anticoagulants should not participate in contact sports because the risk of internal bleeding is very high. Although basketball theoretically is not considered a “contact sport”, anyone who has watched an NBA game for more than five minutes will tell you differently. This explains changing the ending of Wembanyama season on the list of disabilities.
Deep vein thrombosis recovery – what wembanyama’s future holds
What happens next can determine its athletic future. If the underlying problem is, in fact, the chest exit syndrome, it will almost certainly undergo surgery to alleviate it. The risks associated with this type of procedure are generally low and the potential for good recovery and return to the game is high.
This is exactly what happened when Ingram, then playing ahead for Los Angeles Lakers, was diagnosed with a DVT ARM in 2019. He was treated with anticoagulants, then underwent surgery and recovered his previous form. Traded by Lakers in New Orleans Pelicans, he was as effective next year that he played in the All-Star game and was named the most improved League player. On February 6, 2025, Ingram traded in Toronto Raptors, where he signed a three -year contract extension, $ 120 million.
If Wembanyama’s work reveals an anatomical cause of his deep vein thrombosis, it is likely that he will choose for operations. If it does not happen, the next steps in his treatment-and his long-term future in the NBA-will be less safe.
I do not bet on sports or nothing else, but if I were to do, my money would be on the return of Wembanyama to the next season after successful recovery from his deep vein thrombosis. And considering the spurs of the spurs, I’m sure he will not wear another team’s uniform.