Aviva Premiership
Allen avoids gangrene after undergoing surgery
ESPN Staff
October 16, 2013
Anthony Allen has added to Tigers' growing injury woes - they now have 12 first team players out of action © Getty Images
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England's Anthony Allen is facing three months on the sideline with an unusual leg injury.

Allen was tipped to step into Manu Tuilagi's shoes for the autumn Tests but he will now join his Leicester team-mate on the sidelines. Allen has suffered a leg injury which Tigers boss Richard Cockerill described as "horrific trauma" and is similar to those suffered in road-traffic accidents.

Allen sustained the injury against Northampton on October 5 with Cockerill labelling it "compartment syndrome" which sees the muscle tissue compress and produce a blood clot. The injury has been known to lead to gangrene and Cockerill admitted he was relieved the Tigers medical staff caught it before it got that serious.

"It is a very unusual injury, one that normally only comes from road-traffic accidents, and thankfully our medical staff spotted it early enough and it has been dealt with," Cockerill told the Telegraph. "It is a very unfortunate for him. He just got a whack on his leg and a bruise, but the blood collected in the compartment of the muscle.

"The blood builds pressure into the muscle and constricts it and basically part of the muscle dies and will start to rot and turn into gangrene if you don't get it."

Allen has since undergone surgery and is targeting a comeback in the New Year. Cockerill added: "The surgeon confirmed it was compartment syndrome. He has been unlucky with the injury but lucky that the medical staff were aware of the condition.

"The ramifications of it can be quite horrendous if you don't get it early. He had surgery - basically they opened him up to relieve the pressure, take all the dead stuff out of his leg and leave the wound open to heal from the inside. He will make a full recovery but it is just time now."

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