multiple surgeries mean multiple opportunities for a wound infection, and with the right antibiotics and a thorough debridement, its generally not a big deal.

but since "career ending" is already being thrown around, i would guess its a bone infection. that usually requires extended IV antibiotics to the point where they just put a long term picc line in. if that doesnt work, they will have to go into the bone and physically remove the infected parts. once they start resecting bone from your legs, at that age.... playing again looks more unlikely. ive been in a few spine surgies on people with osteomyelitis in their vertebral columns, and they just remove entire vertebral bodies then replace them with metal.