ADELAIDE midfielder Richard Douglas will be sidelined for two months after ankle surgery.
Douglas, 32, injured his syndesmosis on his right ankle in the fourth quarter of last Saturday's round one loss to Hawthorn at Adelaide Oval.
The 238-game veteran has a history of ankle injuries, having missed a month near the end of last season.
Crows science and medical services coordinator Steve Saunders said there had since been a thorough investigation and specialist review, which had led to surgery on Wednesday.
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"Examination demonstrated sufficient instability to warrant surgical stabilisation," Saunders said.
"Syndesmosis reconstruction and a wash out of the joint were completed to ensure best outcomes for Richard in the short and long term."
Douglas adds to a growing injury list at the Crows, who lost defender Tom Doedee to a season-ending torn ACL and Luke Brown is five to seven weeks away with an ankle injury.
The Crows take on Sydney at the SCG on Friday night.
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