UNIVERSITY PARK – Penn State football coach Joe Paterno, injured during a sideline collision Saturday at Wisconsin, and his medical team concluded Sunday that the most expedient method to full recovery was surgery. Following a review of his team’s performance against the Badgers and getting preparations for this week’s Temple game started to his satisfaction, Paterno had surgery Sunday at Mount Nittany Medical Center to repair the injuries to his left leg.
Paterno suffered a tibial plateau fracture of his left leg (top of shin bone) and tore the medial collateral ligament and posterior cruciate ligament in his knee, according to Dr. Wayne Sebastianelli, Penn State Director of Athletic Medicine.
Sebastianelli, who performed the surgery, reported today that the surgical team accomplished all of its objectives and that Coach Paterno is resting comfortably with a full recovery expected. Dr. Sebastianelli anticipates Paterno’s left leg to be weight-bearing within approximately six weeks. Paterno was fitted for a temporary brace and had several screws inserted in the leg.
The Penn State Football operations and medical staffs have a mobility plan in place to make Paterno available for team activities on and off the field. Paterno is expected coach in the game against Temple, which kicks off Saturday at 3:30 p.m. in Beaver Stadium.
Paterno was on the phone Monday morning with members of the coaching staff, discussing game planning for Temple.
Paterno was injured early in the third quarter when Wisconsin’s DeAndre Levy and Penn State tight end Andrew Quarless tumbled into him after a Quarless catch and tackle by the Badger linebacker near the Penn State sideline.
Fans can send get well wishes to Coach Paterno online, the official Web site of Penn State Athletics.
