Drew Brees, the New Orleans Saints quarterback, was making encouraging progress in his rehabilitation after his rib injury, but x-rays have reportedly revealed many additional fractures. In addition to a shoulder injury and a foot injury, the 42-year-old quarterback is said to be affected by 11 rib fractures according to Drew Brees’ wife Brittany’s latest Instagram post. Thus the Drew Brees injury saga needs to be looked at through the lens of 2020. 

Drew Brees Injury: Report and Implication (2021 and 2020) 

2021: 

Drew Brees’ wife Brittany latest Instagram post stated that Drew played with all these injuries this season:

– Torn rotator cuff

– Torn fascia in the foot

– A collapsed lung 

– Plus, 11 broken ribs

In addition to the 11 fractured ribs and pneumothorax, there was also a shoulder injury (tear in the rotator cuff) and a foot injury (tear in the arch of the foot). Until then spared from injuries, Brees’ body seems to have said stop to the career of the Saints quarterback.

2020:

Drew Brees Injury: A collapsed lung and broken ribs

Last year, Rylen, Drew Brees’s daughter, used a toy otoscope to look into her father’s ear.  His son, Bowen then checked his father’s heart with a toy stethoscope. While his siblings were getting into the action, Callen, Brees’ youngest son, sat intently watching his father blow into a real spirometer (a device used to measure air entering and leaving the lungs). 

This was through a post on Instagram that saw the New Orleans Saints quarterback calling his children “the best medical team in the world,” and assuring his fans that he would be back on the field “in no time.” 

Although a touching family interaction, Brees’ utilization of the spirometer showed that he was already working towards rehabilitating his collapsed right lung.

Spirometers “can be really, really useful,” said Dr. Ilan Danan, sports neurologist and pain management specialist at the Cedars-Sinai Kerlan Institute. “It can be very influential in making sure that it reduces the risk of infections like pneumonia to develop in an environment like this. “

As for how he got his injury is in part to the 49ers defensive end Kentavius ​​Street who pushed rookie goalie Cesar Ruiz to punch Brees for what would have ultimately resulted in a penalty for the passer. 

Brees winced as he lifted himself off the turf, staying for the next game with Taysom Hill taking the slam in the quarterback but as the game developed fled to the sideline and threw back and forth passes with a staff member – a departure from the 41-year-old’s normal routine when Hill typically orchestrates the offense. 

Within twenty-four hours from his collision with Street, Brees was diagnosed with a collapsed lung and at least five fractured ribs- although not all of these injuries were caused by this specific game, according to a report by Ed Werder from ESPN. 

According to Werder, Doctors believe those fractured ribs created what’s called a pneumothorax, or collapsed lung in addition to reports of Medical imaging of Brees having at least three broken ribs on his left side – most likely from the previous game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Dr. Danan stated that collapsed lungs are more commonly witnessed during high-impact activities, car crashes, blast injuries, or penetrating injuries – like stab wounds or gunshots.

“In sports, it’s terribly rare, but in high impact sports like soccer, it’s definitely something that can happen and needs to be taken seriously,” he continued. 

Drew Brees Injury: Shoulder and feet

Affecting his passes, a torn plantar fascia in addition to the shoulder injury  negatively impacts a quarterback’s ability to plant his feet on passes, nor can he generate the necessary torque to create distance on his throws.   

After a 35-27 loss to the Detroit Lions on December 21, 2015, New Orleans discovered Drew Brees had a partially torn plantar fascia injury. The footballer in order to heal and come back stronger missed a road game in Carolina because of his injured foot.  

Recovery

Whether the patient is a professional athlete or someone else, collapsed lungs and broken ribs can be a painful process as breathing can hurt, as can coughing, sneezing, and movement in general.

“Individuals don’t realize how actively they are using their ribs in an active and passive setting until they find themselves suffering from a rib fracture and experiencing pain as a direct result,” Danan said. “There’s no question that some of the most benign activities you can think of, like breathing, can be significantly more disabling after a fracture. “

When it comes to bones, no matter where they are in the body, it takes time to heal. Although other bones are placed in casts to aid in recovery, this is not an option with the ribs – even without the complication of a pneumothorax – therefore, rest and breathing exercises are important for recovery. 

Back to the other injuries he has suffered since his first year of high school.

According to Dr. Danan, the usual recovery time for patients with fractured ribs can take most of three to six weeks for a full recovery.

“Obviously, if there are multiple ribs involved or a collapsed lung or pneumothorax, we’re much more careful in terms of timing,” said Danan, who doesn’t treat Brees but rather speaks in general.

“More often than not the bones will heal on their own, but, yes, it can be absolutely frustrating in terms of understanding or recognizing that it’s a bit of a game of waiting. No question. “

Danan said he was surprised Brees was able to get up on his own after taking the shot from Street, let alone complete the half.

But what also emerges from Danan about Brees is the way he acknowledged that his body was telling him to get off the pitch for the second half.