Rizla Suzuki rider Álvaro Bautista suffered a crash during a practice session in Qatar last Friday, March 18th, in which he sustained a displaced transverse fracture of the proximal third femur. Due to logistical issues regarding his immediate transfer in a specially designated medical aeroplane Dr Ángel Villamor coordinated emergency surgery for Bautista along with the doctors at the Hamad Medical Corporation, a procedure which took place at the Doha facility.
The doctors at the Hamad Medical Corporation performed the intramedullary fixation of the fracture with interlocking screws. During the process the doctors suspected that a form of compartmental syndrome was developing, caused by bleeding inside the thigh, and decided to make an incision from the hip to the knee to relieve the muscle inflammation. This incision remained open, and an attempt to close it was made in a new procedure 48 hours later but without success.
At 8pm last night (Wednesday) Bautista landed in Madrid on a specially prepared medical aeroplane, and was transferred by ambulance to the Hospital USP San José – something he had requested at the time of the accident. There he received a blood transfusion having lost more than one litre of blood due to the fracture he had suffered.
Upon his arrival at the hospital Bautista was received by Dr Ángel Villamor, Medical Director of IQTRA and traumatology at the Hospital USP San José. The general condition of Bautista was good, although he arrived tired and in pain. An immediate blood test was carried out, which revealed that his haemoglobin levels had increased, and subsequent MRI and ecography scans confirmed the localised presence of internal bleeding in the thigh.
In new scans the correct fixation of the femur fracture was confirmed.
In light of the situation and with the patient in a stabilised condition, Dr Villamor decided to perform a new surgical procedure to begin the reduction of the quadriceps muscles which had become herniated through the open incision (which was 6x30 cm on the outer side of the thigh). For this a surgical mesh was used to close and stitch the skin on the thigh. Anti-inflammatory medication was administered intravenously, in high doses, as well as preventative antibiotics, which helped Bautista to have a more comfortable night. This morning (Thursday), after a further check by the doctor, Bautista underwent his first session of physiotherapy, during which he was in characteristically high spirits.
A two to three day hospital stay is anticipated by the hospital, with medication and intensive physiotherapy to avoid complications and aid a speedy recovery.
Source: MotoGP Official Website
