Sean Couturier undergoes second back surgery
After suffering a setback recently and being unable to skate, Sean Couturier has underwent another surgery on his back. This was his second surgery in eight in a half months. This time around it was considered a back revision. Chuck Fletcher wasn’t able to confirm if this was a reinjury, if things didn’t heal properly, or if the original surgery just didn’t correct the problem.
His approximate recovery team with be three to four months. Couturier last played a game for the Flyers on December 18, 2021. It has been a back and forth road to recovery for the veteran center. He signed a long-term extension last summer that kicked in this year.
There are still some specifics we don't have yet, but I tried to piece together a general timeline of Sean Couturier's injury and rehab journey: pic.twitter.com/cPFt943zM9
— Giana Han (@giana_jade) October 29, 2022
The original surgery took place on February 11th of this year. His recovery time was similar to now, three to four months. He was expected to return for this season and all parties felt this wouldn’t be something that would effect him moving forward. As stated above, Couturier felt healthy and ready to go right before training camp was set to begin.
And then things turned for the worse once again. He began feeling pain once more and was forced to scale back his training. Despite an epidural relieving the pain, symptoms came back a few weeks later. That’s when he was pulled off the ice recently.
And after originally feeling as if he wouldn’t have to deal with this again, that leads us to the back revision surgery he underwent on October 27th. The surgery was performed by Dr. Andrew B. Dossett at the Carrell Clinic in Dallas, Texas. It was deemed a successful surgery. So for now, we will have to once again wait and see how Couturier responds.
His new timeline puts him somewhere between January and February of this season. Barring any other possible setbacks this time around, there is a window for Couturier to return this season. Regardless, this gives all parties involved a sense of clarity and a plan to move forward. And they do feel as if this second surgery will allow him to get back to normal.
At this point, being able to live a normal and healthy life is what truly matters for Couturier. It would be great to see him back on the ice this season. But his actual health is what comes first.