Markelle Fultz injury update: Guard out indefinitely with thoracic outlet syndrome

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Updated: 8:21 p.m.

Markelle Fultz has a new diagnosis.

Vice President of athlete care Dr. Daniel Medina said in a statement Tuesday that Fultz has been diagnosed with Thoracic outlet syndrome after a series of consultations with various specialists. 

Fultz will begin physical therapy immediately and is out indefinitely.

The second-year guard decided, at the recommendation of his agent, Raymond Brothers, to seek outside consultation on Nov. 20. He has not played or practiced with the Sixers since then.

According to a report on Nov. 21 from The Athletic, Fultz “could prefer a change in scenery.” This diagnosis makes an imminent trade improbable.

Fultz missed 68 games his rookie year with a diagnosis of scapular muscle imbalance. 

Brothers told ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski that Fultz has been diagnosed with neurogenic Thoracic outlet syndrome, the most common form of Thoracic outlet syndrome (TOS). Fultz will begin his rehabilitation in Los Angeles, Brothers informed Wojnarowski.

Shams Charania of Stadium and The Athletic reports Fultz will work with Judy Seto, former head physical therapist of the Los Angeles Lakers, with the Sixers' support. Sixers general manager Elton Brand worked with Seto to recover from a torn Achilles tendon in 2007. 

Wojnarowski reports that, though the team is saying Fultz is out indefinitely, there is optimism Fultz can return within three to six weeks

NBC Sports Philadelphia's John Clark reports Fultz has seen over 10 specialists over the past year, and that one suggested TOS as a possible condition but determined it wouldn't prevent Fultz from playing. Specialists this week diagnosed the syndrome.

Per The Mayo Clinic, neurogenic TOS is "characterized by compression of the brachial plexus. The brachial plexus is a network of nerves that come from your spinal cord and control muscle movements and sensation in your shoulder, arm and hand.”

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