Athletes Beyond Repair?

Bo Jackson A hip replacement in his prime, in 1991, forced him from football and sapped his power and speed in baseball. Today, he might have gone back to excelling at both sports. Peter Broulliet/Getty Images

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If you’re a sports fan, you can probably list the top pitchers, the top quarterbacks . . . and the top orthopedic surgeons. A franchise’s success—and an athlete’s next contract—hinges on how quickly injured superstars return to the field. Here’s how doctors are turning what would have been career-ending injuries a decade ago into speed bumps on the way to Canton or Cooperstown