National Football League
Broncos S Moore undergoes emergency surgery for rare condition
National Football League

Broncos S Moore undergoes emergency surgery for rare condition

Published Nov. 18, 2013 12:00 a.m. ET

Broncos safety Rahim Moore underwent emergency surgery Monday for a condition known as lateral compartment syndrome that can cost patients a limb or even their life.

Moore is out indefinitely.

Moore left the Broncos' 27-17 win over the Kansas City Chiefs in the first half Sunday night after being unable to accelerate on Jamaal Charles' 35-yard run. He was replaced by veteran Mike Adams.

The Broncos said he had a lower leg injury and removed him from the game.

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During the night, Moore called the team's athletic trainer because he was still experiencing pain and swelling and was told to see a doctor, who determined he needed what's called a fasciotomy.

That's where a surgeon cuts open the skin and fascia covering the affected compartment, which are groupings of muscles, nerves and blood vessels.

Compartment syndrome develops when swelling or bleeding occurs within a compartment, which the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons says can be caused by athletic exertion. It's rarely seen in football players, however.

Moore has had a resurgent season after being the goat in Denver's double-overtime loss to Baltimore in the playoffs last year. He allowed Jacoby Jones' 70-yard touchdown catch in the final minute of regulation in that game when he went for the interception instead of the tackle and mistimed his leap at the 20-yard line.

This year, he has 44 tackles and two interceptions.

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