CHARLOTTE, Nov. 21 -- After playing one of his best games of the season at
Minnesota on Friday night,
Gilbert Arenas woke up the next morning, felt his sore left knee and knew something wasn't quite right.
On Wednesday, the three-time all star found out why. An MRI exam revealed that Arenas suffered a partial tear of his left medial meniscus. He underwent surgery to repair the meniscus and what the team doctor described as a defect in a bone on the side of his knee at
Sibley Memorial Hospital in the District, and is expected to miss at least three months.
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All-star guard Gilbert Arenas, shown sitting out Tuesday's victory against Philadelphia, underwent knee surgery yesterday after an MRI exam revealed a partial tear of the meniscus in his left knee. (By Toni L. Sandys -- The Washington Post)
Team physician Marc Connell described the procedure in a statement released by the
Wizards. "I repaired a partial tear of
Gilbert's left medial meniscus," Connell said, who also used a technique known as microfracture to stimulate cartilage growth. "We are optimistic that he will be able to return to action in three months."
Arenas originally suffered a torn left lateral meniscus April 4 in a game against the
Charlotte Bobcats when
Gerald Wallace fell onto the side of his leg. He underwent surgery and missed the remainder of the season, including the playoffs. That injury also had a three-month timetable for a possible return, and Arenas was cleared to resume basketball-related activity on schedule during the summer.