Byron Buxton Knows You Can't Spell 'Sisyphus' Without 'Hip'

[Lucas Seehafer PT]

Image courtesy of Bruce Kluckhohn-Imagn Images

Sometimes, the road to injury recovery feels Sisyphean. Things are feeling good. The rehabilitation is progressing, the pain is improving, and baseball activities are resumed. And then it happens. A misplaced step, a twist of the leg, or a slide into second base, and all of a sudden, the 1,000-pound boulder rolls back down the hill, demanding to be pushed again.

Such has been the experience of All-Star center fielder Byron Buxton, who was placed on the injured list yet again last week due to lingering hip impingement symptoms. Unfortunately, Buxton (an MVP-caliber talent when healthy) is no stranger to the Sisyphean rebounding from injury, but it’s fair to wonder if this time—for this season—his trial is over. Maybe this boulder can’t be pushed back up the hill.

Hip impingement involves excessive bone growth near the head of the femur or along the acetabular rim (socket), and in some cases both. This excess results in reduced range of motion and “pinching” pain at the hip, particularly during activities that involve running, twisting, cutting, and decelerating (i.e., baseball). If the overgrowth is significant enough, it can impinge on the labrum, a ring of tissue located inside the hip that holds the ball of the femur within the socket, improving stability and force transmission through the joint. The labrum has very little blood flow relative to other tissue in the body. As such, it does not heal well on its own. If the damage is large enough, it may cause pain, inflammation, and reduced stability, which may require surgical repair.

Why Byron Buxton Might Need Hip Surgery, and When He Could Play Again

This injury can often be managed successfully, with targeted rehabilitation focused on restoring range of motion and improving muscle strength to divert force away from the joint. When indicated, a steroid injection may be deployed to reduce swelling. However, if these interventions fail (as they have so far, for Buxton), surgery to shave the excessive bone and/or address damage to the labrum may be warranted.

Return to play following surgery to correct hip impingement largely depends on the extent of tissue operated on, though the literature on the return for position players following hip labrum repair is scant. High-level baseball players have previously returned to play within 3-8 months following hip arthroscopy, including impingement and labral repair procedures. Twins general manager Jeremy Zoll indicated that surgery may be on the table, which could place the beginning of Buxton’s 2027 campaign in question depending on when and if that decision is made.

Buxton’s struggle is the latest in a chain of examples of his body failing him. Make no mistake: There are no morals when it comes to injury. One cannot simply will oneself to orthopedic health. Injury is the result of the complex, chaotic interplay between innumerable variables, not any sort of ability. (Whoever coined the phrase “The best ability is availability” had no understanding of injury pathology and risk mitigation. Perhaps it should come as no surprise that a football coach, Bill Parcells, is credited for the saying's popularity.)

He will undoubtedly bounce back, yet again, and perform at a high level next summer. After all, it’s not like Sisyphus ever gave up. At a certain point, though, Buxton and Twins fans must both start to feel cursed—just as Sisyphus was.

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[Cory Engelhardt]

Lucas, you are definitely one of the top 25 influencers in the world in my eyes :)

Always appreciate your articles. Thanks!

[Thumbs Down Guy]

Hoping it takes Buxton a long recovery. Only because I would love to see him at top performance during the second half of the season and pushing hard for division dominance.

[dberthia]

In his present state, he's not good to anybody, so if he needs surgery I hope he gets it done ASAP. The season is lost, so there's no point in trying to get him back on the field this year.

[LastOnePicked]

Make no mistake: There are no morals when it comes to injury. One cannot simply will oneself to orthopedic health."

This is 100% true.

"He will undoubtedly bounce back, yet again, and perform at a high level next summer."

This is 100% wishful thinking. I have hope as well, but there are certainly doubts.

[PuckettPond]

Surgery now as we have CF covered with Keaschall, Jenkins & Erod coming up. When did his personal physician Dr Ruth say when Buxton will be healthy for baseball activities?