The seemingly ongoing saga of junior Cathrine Kraayeveld has hit another snag.
The 6-foot-4-inch forward, sidelined with a left knee injury since the start of Pacific-10 Conference play on Dec. 27, has received neither a favorable nor a poor diagnosis recently. But according to Oregon doctors, this could deal a definite blow to Kraayeveld’s chances of returning to the court this
season.
“The chances of her getting back to the fitness and stamina level of the Pac-10 is not very good,” said Dr. Robert Crist, Oregon’s director of athletic medicine.
Crist implied that if Kraayeveld had been sidelined because of an injury such as a sprain, her recovery time would be lessened. However, because there is a a staph infection involved, doctors must be much more careful.
This means that Kraayeveld may not participate in any traditional rehabilitative measures, such as workouts in a pool. Effectively, she can do nothing but rest until the bacteria that have caused the staph infection in her right knee subside.
“How Cathrine got the staph infection, we have no idea,”
Crist said.
Crist said that staph infections commonly result from boils and floor burns. He said that Kraayeveld had an insect bite on her left arm when she was sidelined, but said there is no indication that it could have been the cause.
Crist added that he and Dr. Ken Singer, an Oregon team physician, have never seen an instance like Kraayeveld’s and called it an unusual occurrence in a healthy athlete. He said staph infections normally result after surgery, or in older-aged patients.
“In a rare situation, one bacteria lodged in her knee and started growing,” Crist said.
If Kraayeveld fails to come back — she was originally diagnosed to be out for six weeks — she may have an option to file for a medical hardship waiver. If she were to be granted one, it would allow her to repeat her junior season next year.
But it’s not going to be easy.
For an athlete to be eligible, he or she must have played less than 20 percent of the team’s games in a season. Kraayeveld played nine, which amounts to 33 percent of Oregon’s contests this season. Had she played in just six, she would be eligible.
Normally, the Pac-10 is responsible for granting medical hardship requests, but if an athlete does not meet the requirements, the paperwork would have to be filed with the NCAA.
But according to Erik Price, assistant director of compliance for the Pac-10, those “long-shot” requests are rarely approved.
“There used to be no exception,” he said. “But there was a feeling students had a right to
be heard.”
Price added that the Pac-10 does not necessarily have to approve an athlete’s request, even if the above requirements are met.
“The most important part of a medical hardship waiver is the completeness and thoroughness of the medical documentation,” he said.
Kraayeveld led the team with 16.7 points and 11.7 rebounds per game in the nine contests before the injury. She was also hailed as an All-American candidate.