KEY POINTS:
Australia forward David Lyons has undergone unorthodox surgery normally performed on heart patients in a bid to resolve a calf injury in time for the Rugby World Cup in September.
The 27-year-old Waratahs flanker was diagnosed with deep vein thrombosis before the Tri-Nations decider in Auckland this month, with the traditional treatment of rest and medication meaning a six-month absence from the game.
But Lyons, capped 43 times by the Wallabies since his debut in 2000, opted for a speedier course of treatment to improve his chances of making it to France.
"They put in a catheter down from the top of my groin," Lyons told Sydney's Daily Telegraph newspaper.
"They never really do this on legs, they normally only do it on heart patients. No one's ever really done it on the calf before.
"They usually just leave it because it heals itself. But that can take up to six months.
"Every couple of minutes a machine squirts fluid out of the catheter right into the clot to try to break it down.
"The doctor has the blood flowing again so hopefully that will speed the process up."
Lyons, who is set to join up with the other members of the Wallabies squad for a three-day training camp this week, said his chances of playing in the World Cup had been much improved by the left-field procedure.
"So far so good, I'm in a lot better position than I was," he said.
"This time last week, I was a bit touch and go whether I would be right or not.
"We'll have a better idea how things are in the next two weeks.
"It was disappointing to miss the Bledisloe game, but hopefully I can get back on the park for the World Cup."
- REUTERS
