Hamm Hopeful After Surgery (updated)

May 27, 2008

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Paul Hamm is in “a great mood” following surgery to fixate his broken right hand earlier this afternoon, according to agent Sheryl Shade.

“It went great,” Shade said of the surgery. “He’s done. He’s at home. He’s … very happy with everything and very upbeat.”

Shade added that Dr. Lawrence Lubbers, who performed the surgery, was equally pleased with the outcome, pronouncing Hamm already ahead of schedule. Dr. Lubbers used a plate and nine screws to secure the break in Hamm's metacarpal bone.

"The surgery went perfectly,” Hamm said in a statement released by USA Gymnastics. “We are already ahead of schedule."

Hamm left the hospital in a special dressing designed to limit swelling and promote healing, but will have that removed Thursday morning at his post-operative checkup with Dr. Lubbers. (At that point a "glove" or small cast may be put on to protect the surgical site.) Immediately following that appointment, the Olympic champ will start rehabilitation at the Ohio State Medical Center.

Shade told Inside Gymnastics that Hamm plans to be “very aggressive” in his rehabilitation, but also careful to “not push to the point of having any setbacks.” To that end, Hamm was already back in the gym yesterday (Monday), doing leg and rings strength, spending an impressive two hours on conditioning. (Hamm said before leaving Houston that one of his fears is losing strength in his right arm because of the hand injury.)

Currently in the care of his parents, Sandy and Cecily, Hamm is looking forward to his “first meal of the day”—because of the surgery he has had only orange juice and crackers in the last 24 hours—and posted a video of his day at the hospital on his website, makingtheolympics.com, only hours after the surgery. In the video, an upbeat Hamm encourages, "Let's get this over with ... let's do it," as he's prepared for surgery.

“He’s on a mission,” Shade said of her client’s desire to get back in time for Beijing. “I don’t have any doubts what-so-ever. If I had to predict anything, I’d say he will definitely be back—back with a vengeance.”

The men’s gymnastics competition commences in China on August 9, 2008.

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EXTERNAL LINK: http://www.makingtheolympics.com/videos/paul_surgery.html