Slade is out of rugby for up to a year after badly breaking his leg in the Highlanders' 33-26 loss to the Brumbies on Saturday night.
The injury happened when he was tackled in the 52nd minute.
The All Black first five-eighth had an operation in Canberra yesterday and it will be three or four days before he is well enough to return to New Zealand.
"Colin's broken his fibula and his tibia. Clean break. They've inserted a rod from his knee to his ankle," Highlanders coach Jamie Joseph said from Sydney yesterday.
"He's going to be out for a whole year.
"That's terrible for Colin, after everything he's been through."
Slade has had a horrid 18 months.
He broke his jaw twice last season, his Rugby World Cup campaign was wrecked by a groin injury, and he required a hernia operation in the summer.
Joseph said Slade's wife, Emma, was expected to head to Australia, while Brumbies manager Tony Thorpe, formerly with the All Blacks and Crusaders, was also offering support.
Highlanders' injury curse
• Flanker John Hardie (toe) needs an operation and is out for the season.
• First five Lima Sopoaga (shoulder) is out for the season.
• Lock/flanker Nick Crosswell (knee) is out for six weeks.
• Midfielder Kendrick Lynn (neck) is 5-6 weeks away.
• Midfielder Siale Piutau (ankle) remains sidelined.
• Hooker Andrew Hore (calf) is not a certain starter against the Rebels in Invercargill this week.
• Lock Jarrad Hoeata (shoulder) may be available this week.
