In a landmark legal victory, former Premier League footballer Sylvan Ebanks-Blake has been awarded a multi-million-pound compensation package after a High Court judge ruled that an unnecessary surgical procedure effectively ended his top-flight career.
The Career-Ending Operation
The case centred on events in 2013, when Ebanks-Blake, then playing for Wolverhampton Wanderers, suffered a lower leg fracture. During the treatment for this fracture, his surgeon, Professor James Calder, performed an additional arthroscopy on the player's ankle. This procedure involved removing cartilage and performing a microfracture on the underlying bone.
Professor Calder defended his actions, stating through his barrister Martin Forde KC that the treatment would be supported by other expert surgeons in sports trauma. He believed the cartilage issue could deteriorate if left alone.
A Pain-Free Ankle Made Painful
However, Mrs Justice Lambert, presiding over the case, delivered a damning verdict. She found it was "neither reasonable nor logical" to perform the invasive surgery on a patient who was experiencing no pain in the ankle at the time.
The judge accepted evidence from the former striker's legal team, led by Simeon Maskrey KC, that the operation caused significant stiffness and reduced movement in Ebanks-Blake's left ankle—a joint that had previously been trouble-free. This directly impacted his ability to perform at the elite level.
The Downward Spiral and Retirement
Following the surgery and his departure from Wolves, Ebanks-Blake's career trajectory plummeted. He joined Ipswich Town but struggled with persistent pain, managing it only with regular steroid injections. His playing days drifted down through the English football leagues before a final leg fracture during a non-league match led to his retirement in 2019.
Maskrey argued in court that the decision to retire was a direct result of the ongoing pain and stiffness from the surgery, not the original fracture. The barrister emphasised that for an elite athlete, the risks of the procedure far outweighed any potential benefit, especially when no symptoms were present.
The court heard that the 39-year-old former England Under-21 international, who began his career at Manchester United and famously scored 64 goals in 193 appearances for Wolves, now requires ongoing physiotherapy and psychological support.
Justice Served and Compensation Secured
In her ruling on Thursday, Mrs Justice Lambert stated, "I find that the defendant was in breach of duty in performing an arthroscopy on a previously symptom free claimant." She added that without the operation, Ebanks-Blake's ankle would have remained pain-free for three to five more years, allowing him to continue playing at a high level.
The judge ruled in favour of Ebanks-Blake, entitling him to damages exceeding £7 million. The exact final sum is to be determined at a subsequent hearing. This case sets a significant precedent for professional athletes regarding consent and the necessity of medical interventions.
