Meet the surgeon saving the careers of cricket's best fast bowlers
New Zealand spinal surgeon Rowan Schouten has gained a reputation as the man to see for a generation of injury-plagued fast bowlers.
Former New Zealand fast bowler Shane Bond's illustrious cricket career was tragically derailed by a back injury that kept him off the field for nearly two years. After consulting with back surgeon Grahame Inglis, Bond underwent pars stabilisation surgery in 2004, which proved to be a turning point. This pioneering procedure, later adopted by renowned spinal surgeon Rowan Schouten, has since been performed on around 30 professional cricketers worldwide.
The surgery, which involves grafting the spine to stimulate repair and securing it with screws and wires, has allowed fast bowlers like Jofra Archer, Jason Behrendorff, and James Pattinson to return to top-level play. Dr Schouten emphasizes that the surgery is not as extreme as it may seem, with a six-to-nine month recovery period required.
While the injury, known as a stress fracture, is common in sports, Dr Schouten stresses the importance of preserving spinal motion to maintain a bowler's speed.
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