Boyle's return remains unspecified

By DAMIAN CRISTODERO, Times Staff Writer
Published November 10, 2007

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WASHINGTON - Defenseman Dan Boyle will be out an unspecified amount of time after what the team called "successful" tendon replacement surgery in his left wrist.

The two-hour procedure was done Friday by Thomas Graham, chief of the Curtis National Hand Center at Baltimore's Union Memorial Hospital.

"I am extremely confident that this operation will allow Dan and the Lightning to move forward after these unusual and unfortunate circumstances," Graham said in a statement.

Boyle was hurt Sept.22, when a skate fell from his locker and sliced three tendons that help control the thumb. Tampa orthopedist Richard Gray, assisted by Lightning medical director Ira Guttentag, performed the first surgery Sept. 23. Two of the tendons developed complications.

Team spokesman Bill Wickett said an extra tendon from Boyle's left index finger was used to restore thumb function. The two damaged tendons were not repaired.