DYER IN THE CLEAR

Newcastle midfielder Kieron Dyer has not got shin splints - as was first thought - but he has a cyst on the shin bone which is causing him pain during games.

If Dyer had shin splints, then he would have been facing an operation that could have kept him out of the game for months.

As it is he will require an operation - but not just yet.

With Alan Shearer and Carl Cort still out injured after having operations Newcastle will hold back from having Dyer go under the knife until the strike duo.

Some good news on the injury front at last!!!

AM

-- Anonymous, January 22, 2001

Answers

great news.

Funny how 5 days can make such a difference when supporting the lads.

-- Anonymous, January 22, 2001

Aye DSS ... too true. Makes you not want to know what the next 5days have got in store! ;-((

-- Anonymous, January 22, 2001

Hhmmh - looks like good news. However, there are several types of bone cyst, some harmless, some extremely nasty.

It is actually a spherical hole in the bone, filled with fat or fluid. They are not uncommon, and unless they cause a problem often go undetected.
I know a little about them as it was recently found that I had one in my thigh-bone that showed up on an x-ray for something else.

It seems surprising given his previous shin problems that this has not showed up on past x-rays.

It is usual for a follow-up MRI scan to be done to get a better picture of the cyst, plus blood tests to ensure it isn't something insidious that is causing the cyst. If it proves to be totally benign, I believe the treatment depends on how big a diameter the cyst is in relation to the bone. If it is small they don't require any treatment. However, beyond a certain diameter it can seriously weaken the bone, making it susceptible to fracture - clearly a major issue for a pro footballer. In this event, the treatment is to drain the cyst, and fill the hole with a bone graft - not a trivial operation, as you can imagine.

Sorry if I dampen any relief with this explanation, and hopefully it really is good news.

-- Anonymous, January 22, 2001

Thanks for the explanation, Clarky. With our injury luck, nothing ever seems to be easy. And we're not likely to get as much explanation from the club. Hopefully it really is nothing too serious and LKD will be tearing up the pitch again next week!

-- Anonymous, January 22, 2001

Cheers for that graphic diagnosis Clarky - just before me lunch as well!

-- Anonymous, January 22, 2001

Nice time to bring it up then Dave??

-- Anonymous, January 22, 2001

Sorry about that Dave - my timing never was very good!

-- Anonymous, January 22, 2001

KIERON DYER BULLETIN (from the club)

Kieron Dyer has undergone further tests on his shin injury and all tests have shown no serious problem at the present time. He has a small area of inflammation on the surface of his shinbone and has made good progress.

He is expected to be fit to play next week. However, the situation is to be monitored

-- Anonymous, January 23, 2001