Aiden Hutchinson, one of the NFL’s rising stars, has recently sustained a leg injury that ended his season. As a key player on the Detroit Lion's defensive line, his absence could significantly impact his team's performance. In this article, Dr. Edward Hur highlights five key things you need to know about Hutchinson’s leg injury, from the nature of the injury to the potential timeline for his return.

Five things to know about Aidan Hutchinson’s injury

1. Hutchinson is reported to have broken his tibia and fibula, which are the two bones in the lower leg that connect the knee to the ankle. We still do not know the full details of the injury and while we know the bones were broken, there are many factors that can affect recovery and healing.

2. Initially, it was reported that Hutchison had a compound fracture, which is when the broken bones cause an open wound in the skin at the time of injury. A compound fracture is worrisome because there can be a higher risk of complications such as an infection. However, there has been some good news as it was later clarified that Hutchinson did not have a compound fracture.

3. Hutchinson underwent successful surgery to fix his tibia and fibula. There are reports that his tibia was fixed with an intramedullary nail. This is a metal rod that holds the bone in place and may allow for early walking after surgery as the bone heals with time. Also, using a rod is encouraging since it usually means that the break in the bone did not enter into any of the joints, which can lead to problems such as stiffness and arthritis.

4. Hutchinson is expected to make a full recovery from the injury, but he likely won’t make it back for this season. One study reported a 91.5% rate of return to sport in athletes who have surgery to fix a tibia fracture. Another report specifically looking at NFL players found an average of about 230 days missed after surgery for a tibia fracture.

5. Besides the bone healing, Hutchinson will need to work hard in rehab to gain the speed, strength, and confidence that allowed him to lead the NFL in sacks this season up until his injury. He can draw some inspiration from his alma mater as former University of Michigan offensive lineman, Zak Zinter, underwent surgery for a broken tibia and fibula fracture in November 2023 and has returned to play this season for the Cleveland Browns.