The Repsol Honda Team rider Dani Pedrosa, was released from hospital today Thursday at midday after an operation on his fractured second metacarpal on his right hand. The surgery was performed by Dr. Xavier Mir, Jefe de la Unidad de Cirugía y Microcirugía de la Mano de USP Institut Universitari Dexeus.
Pedrosa fell last Tuesday during practice in Malaysia when he was riding his new Honda RC212V 2008. His front wheel lost adherence when he was braking. He was rapidly flown to Barcelona to have an operation as soon as possible so that he can return to competition riding as soon as he can.
Upon arrival at the hospital, and after the appropriate tests, the team of doctors directed by Dr. Xavier Mir responsible for him, confirmed that Pedrosa had a fractured second metacarpal on his right hand with three diaphysary fragments, these are the bones found in the middle part of the metacarpal. At 14:00 the Repsol rider entered the operating theatre and approximately two hours later the surgery was over.
Dani Pedrosa >> Audio
“Now I just want to get better and I expect that I will be physically fine very soon. The operation went very well. Dr. Mir and all his team have done a good job, as always, and I have received the best attention here in the Dexeus.I think this will help to make the recovery faster and better. It is obvious that now the injury decides everything and as the days pass we will be able to see if we can be at the other practice sessions. Comparing it with the ankle injuries, that was much more serious, although I had more time to recover. The fall was at speed, without any advance warning that might have made me think I was going to fall. I just touched the brake and I fell. I think that something went wrong on the bike in both the first and second falls, the mechanics are looking at the data we recorded to see were the bike failed.”
Dr. Xavier Mir >> Audio
“The operation was basically to reduce the fracture and then to fix a titanium plate with screws – seven of them. We placed a new plate specifically made for these bones in the operation with the screws to block the fracture. These latest generation plates called low-contact, help fractures to cure faster. Pedrosa will be able to start his rehabilitation period within 72 hours. Referring to his rejoining his team and riding again, this is an unknown since top category sportsmen surprise us with their rates of recovery, compared to the minimum period of 6 weeks that are needed in the majority of cases when a typical patient has this type of injury.”
