Marc Coma returned last night from Romania, after abandoning the Central Europe Rally due to a fall just a few kilometers away from the finish line during the second day’s first special. The Repsol rider was admitted into the USP Institut Universitari Dexeus hospital where an initial exploration was carried out, and afterwards blood was extracted from an internal bruise.
After analysing the x-rays, the scanner and electromagnetic resonance results, two small fractures where confirmed in his right tibial plateau and knee cap. Fortunately, there was no displacement in the fractures, nor was there any damage to ligaments, which at first was the major worry and could have delayed his recovery.
At 4:00 pm, Coma was discharged and his right knee will be immobilised for a week, period after which the inflammation is expected to decrease. After that, he will be examined again. If his development is satisfactory, he will start with recovery exercises, and it is hoped that within six or eight weeks he will be competing again.
Marc Coma >> Audio
“Luckily it seems that it’s not a serious injury. I was worried because knee injuries are normally complicated and require a long period of recovery. Apparently there’s a hairline fracture in my shinbone and knee cap, but the ligaments are fine, which is the most important. Now we have to wait for the swelling to subside and then we can start work on recovery.”
Doctor Xavier Mir >> Audio
“Marc arrived here late last night and we carried out an initial exploration on his knee, and x-rays were done. He had an internal bruise in his knee and blood had collected there. This morning he went through the scanner and we did an electromagnetic resonance, which ruled out the possibility of damage to the ligaments in his knee. However, there is a small fracture, no displacement, to his right tibial plateau and knee cap. The initial approach will be to wait a week until the swelling has gone from his knee, as right now it’s quite swollen, keeping it immobile with a special splint. In a week’s time we will examine him again, and if possible, we will start with rehabilitation, limiting the knee’s arc of flexion and extension.”
