Blue Jackets' Dubinsky practices, talks elbow surgery

Columbus Blue Jackets forward Brandon Dubinsky, recovering from an infection in his elbow that required surgery, returned to practice Monday.

Dubinsky told The Columbus Dispatch that a cut on his elbow sustained Oct. 22 became infected and the situation worsened when he did not act on it right away.

"I guess I was naïve," Dubinsky told reporter Aaron Portzline. "I knew something was going on but I didn’t realize the severity of the infection and how quickly it spread and how quickly you can be in trouble.

"It hurt a little the morning of the Pittsburgh game (Nov. 13). But then in the afternoon it just got huge, like the size of a knee. It escalated fast. It kept growing up and down both sides of my arm, almost wrist to armpit."

Dubinsky had surgery Nov. 14. He said the infection may have been caused when he bumped his elbow and opened the cut while putting on his hockey socks.

The Dispatch reported Dubinsky's elbow is heavily wrapped and it is not known when he will return to play. He said doctors want to avoid the risk that the cut will open again.

Dubinsky was second on the Blue Jackets with 11 points (four goals) in 16 games at the time of his injury.