Ville Heinola, the 23-year-old defenseman for the Winnipeg Jets, has suffered a setback due to an infection in his surgically repaired ankle. This is the same ankle that he fractured in the 2023 preseason, which required surgery and caused him to miss half of that season. The infection was detected during a recent medical examination, and as a result, Heinola will be out indefinitely. His ankle has swollen around the site where screws were inserted during last year’s surgery.
Infections are a significant risk in orthopedic surgeries because they often involve implants like screws, rods, or joint replacements. These foreign materials provide surfaces where bacteria can easily adhere, making infections harder to treat.
Infection is a serious complication because it can compromise the success of the surgery, lead to prolonged recovery times, and, in severe cases, require additional surgeries to remove the infected tissue or hardware.
Dr. Rothenberg spoke with CJOB 680 to provide insight into Ville Heniola’s ankle injury.
Click below to listen to the interview.
