Former world champ Spillane rehabbing after shoulder surgery{mosimage}PARK CITY, Utah - Two-time Olympic skier and former nordic combined sprint world champion Johnny Spillane is rehabbing his right shoulder following reconstructive surgery.

Spillane injured both shoulders in a jump training crash in June and reinjured his right shoulder last November in Finland, but decided against surgery until after the season so he could compete in the Torino Olympics in February. He finished 10th in the nordic combined sprint.

Dr. Andreas M. Sauerbrey, a U.S. Ski Team surgeon who is affiliated with Orthopaedics of Steamboat Springs, performed the surgery in Steamboat, U.S. Ski Team Medical Director Melinda Roalstad said Wednesday.

According to Roalstad, Spillane suffered a complete separation of the AC (acromial clavicular) joint and a pre-surgery MRI revealed a labral tear in addition to a Grade V separation.

"Dr. Sauerbrey said it would be about three months of rehab and recovery before Johnny can get back to jump training. His arm is in a sling and he's working with our training facility staff [in Park City] on his therapy," she said.

"It was two pretty hefty procedures at once with the surgery," Spillane said. "I'm really glad we did it now."

Spillane, 25, said once he gets out of the sling, he expected to be riding a stationary bike for another few months as he begins his return.

"Right now, I've only got one good arm, but this is my third shoulder operation, so I know pretty much what to expect," he said. "I'm hoping to be jumping by the middle to the end of July and be rollerskiing by early August."

- USSA