More articles about today's surgery...
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http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/news ... pinal-discPlushenko has surgery to replace spinal disc Jan 31 (Reuters) - Former Olympic champion Yevgeny Plushenko underwent successful back surgery in Tel Aviv on Thursday to replace a deteriorated disc in his spine.
"Yevgeny had an operation to remove one of his spinal discs with a synthetic one," the Russian's long-time coach Alexei Mishin told Reuters.
"The doctor who performed the operation said it was a success (but) ... it's too early to make any prognosis about his return to the ice."
Last week Plushenko, widely regarded as the most gifted skater of his generation, was forced out of the European championships in Zagreb after aggravating his back problem during the short programme.
The 2006 Olympic champion crashed while attempting a triple axel.
Mishin said Plushenko, who had struggled with back pain for more than a year, should not have competed in Zagreb.
"Looking back we all say he should have done something else but it's too late now," Mishin added. "The disc was in such a bad condition."
Plushenko, 30, was sidelined by the injury for almost a year before making a triumphant comeback by claiming his 10th national title at last month's Russian championships in Sochi.
The flamboyant Russian, who controversially lost the 2010 Olympic title to American Evan Lysacek, underwent knee surgery last February, a month after clinching his seventh European crown in Sheffield, England.
"Now he should get a new lease of life and hopefully will come back stronger than he was last year," Mishin said.
"I know he has his mind set on competing at the (2014) Sochi Olympics and I'm sure he'll do whatever it takes to be there in good shape and in good health."
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http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/more/n ... z2Jao1Q0A1Plushenko undergoing back surgery, skipping world championshipsMOSCOW (AP) -- Russian figure skater Evgeny Plushenko is having back surgery that will keep him out of the world championships in March.
Plushenko's coach, Alexei Mishin, was quoted by the newspaper Sovietsky Sport as saying the 2006 Olympic gold medalist would be operated on Thursday in Israel to replace a deteriorated disk in his spine with a plastic one.
Plushenko won Olympic silver in Vancouver in judging that was questioned because he performed quadruple jumps, while gold winner Evan Lysacek did not. The 30-year-old Russian had hoped to win a second gold at the games in his home country, but has struggled with injuries.
He withdrew after the short program at last week's European Championships.
Mishin said recovery from the operation would be "quite long," but Plushenko could train for next season.
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Finnish article...
Taitoluistelija Plushenko sai uuden välilevyn: http://www.ess.fi/?article=401891Turkish....
Plushenko'dan kötü haber!: http://durushaber.com/haber-14408-Plush ... um=twitter