Kubica's Recovery

[djos]

From Roberts Doctor:

Robert Kubica is still undergoing surgery in the Santa Corona hospital in Pietra Ligure, being overseen by Dr. Riccardo Ceccarelli, the Renault GP doctor, and renowned hand surgeon Professor Igor Rossello who is based locally.

Kubica first underwent bone reconstruction surgery before doctors focussed of tissue and nerve damage, while at the same time another surgical team worked on his leg injuries. In addition to multiple fractures to his right arm, leg and hand, initial concerns were that his right hand might have to be amputated, but doctors managed to reattach the blood supply and hope the operation will be a success. Kubica will be watched closely overnight to monitor other issues.

Doctor Prof Igor Rossello said, "We have to wait at least a week to see if his hand survives.", when asked about the likelihood of whether Kubica's hand will return to full capability.

"The nerve lesions are the ones that leave us with the most question marks over the recovery of functions. Rehabilitation will be relatively long, probably one year. He came here with multiple traumas, with several associated injuries. He won't necessarily have to undergo further surgery on the hand, but he will if needed. One year is the best provision. I think it is quite difficult now, but you never know. Drivers are always very special patients. I have a lot of motorbike patients and they heal in a much faster way - faster than normal people."

If Roberts hand is saved it sounds like he will make a full recovery and likely be back in 2012 - if not then his career will be over but at least he will be alive and able to look after himself unlike some less fortunate race drivers from years gone by.

[countersteer]

There has been a fairly aggressive program in the US to either cap the rail ends with energy absorbing terminals, or replace guardrails entirely with cable barriers, to prevent just this sort of accident.

Please excuse the off topic... but I absolutely HATE cable barriers. For a motorcyclist, they are certain death or dismemberment. I understood that they were being removed from roadways in Europe because of this very issue. Can someone confirm?

[sknguy]

I hate second hand news, so it's a releif now to hear news from the Doctor. I wish Robert the best with his recovery. Was really looking forward to seeing him race the black and gold.

[Pandamasque]

Let's all come to a right understanding. This is more serious than anyone has let on. Kubica was basically fighting for his life when they got him from the car. His Formula 1 career is over.

Let's all hope and pray that he can lead a normal, happy life with or without Formula 1. His career is simply not important right now. His life is.

Seg, I think you are being overly dramatic, he should be fine for 2012!

I certainly hope so. As long as his hand function is fully restored his only career problem would be the lack of practice in 2011. I don't doubt his ability to get back from this psychologically. He's done it before.

[raymondu999]

It would actually be interesting, heartless as it may seem, to compare his comeback form vs Schumi's comeback form, and Massa's comeback form.

[Pandamasque]

It would actually be interesting, heartless as it may seem, to compare his comeback form vs Schumi's comeback form, and Massa's comeback form.

I'd rather see him in full form in 2011.

[raymondu999]

I would too. I'm not saying that's more desirable than him in full form in 2011, I'm just saying we could.

With the most optimistic assesments, when is the consensus that he'll be able to be back in action?

[andartop]

I think playing the guessing game now is pointless. Doctors said a minimum of one year maybe less maybe more, but this is not the issue here. Yes, doctors sometimes will play down the severity of the situation when someone famous gets injured, but more often than not they will do the exact opposite for two reasons: a) so as not to get the patient's and family's hopes too high up and risk disappointment, and b) for medico-legal reasons. We can only hope, pray and wait. Every trauma case is different and every person is different with regards to recovery times. Some people just don't want to accept that. I'm happy enough to hear Robert Kubica is alive and still in one piece. In rallying unfortunately fatalities are still more common than anyone would wish for.

[Italiano]

Seriously...stop overanalyzing like anoraks and just hope for the best.

[Sebp]

Get well soon Robert!

[gibells]

There has been a fairly aggressive program in the US to either cap the rail ends with energy absorbing terminals, or replace guardrails entirely with cable barriers, to prevent just this sort of accident.

Please excuse the off topic... but I absolutely HATE cable barriers. For a motorcyclist, they are certain death or dismemberment. I understood that they were being removed from roadways in Europe because of this very issue. Can someone confirm?

Not sure about cable barriers, but down here in Spain even the Armco barriers are being modified so that the uprights are covered with sheet steel leaving nothing available to stop you suddenly.

[johnny99]

This is a translation I found from a Polish reporter and friend of Kubica,


For a long time I was contemplating whether to act as a journalist or a friend of Robert Kubica. In the light of all the false rumours circulating I decided to share some information right from the hospital in Santa Corona.
The truth is that Robert was fighting for his life. When he was transported to the hospital after a long and not very efficient rescue action, the doctors were primarily occupied with saving Robert’s life rather than healing the injuries he obtained in the crash. Fortunately, Robert’s organism proved to be very strong. As an effect of a continuous ten hour long operation the doctors managed to not only eliminate the threats to his life but also to concentrate on the most serious injuries. I would like to emphasise that Robert was in the hands of truly extraordinary specialists.
In the doctors’ opinion the next couple of hours will have a fundamental effect on the future. At the moment any estimates regarding the regeneration time are premature.
We ask all journalists and fans not to rely on rumours and unverified information, since by doing so they might cause a lot of pain to Robert’s family and closest friends.
I will try to provide the newest information on any development.
Mikołaj Sokół

John

[Pandamasque]

^ thanks.

[i70q7m7ghw]

He wasn't conscious all the time. Gerber confirmed that he drifted in and out of consciousness, and they then had him on oxygen until they could get him out. His life was in danger until they could perform surgery on him and there would definitely have been some internal bleeding from such injures, although they've probably manage to stop it by now thankfully. That's in addition to worrying about his limbs. There was a great deal of blood next to and under the driver's side of the car which you would expect from such injuries. I don't really want to post it here though and get morbid about it.

I don't know where people are getting these things 'confirmed' from. These are extremely serious injuries and we never get the full story as to how serious things were until a long time after. There's no getting away from it.

His career really should be the furthest thing from anyone's mind right now.........

If this was Vettel/Webber you would be saying the exact opposite and that the media is dramatising it.

All you do is stomp around the forum trolling threads with your controntational dramatic responses, get a life.

In other news I'm hearing Kubica is in an induced coma recovering from surgery. Doctors seem hopeful he will recover the use of his hand, atleast enough to continue racing. They did say however, they don't expect a full recovery for atleast a year.

[luca]

A user posted this video on another forum; it's a view from the next driver driving about 1 minute behind Kubica.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ALbxMiwf4nw[/youtube]
(Skip to minute 3:15)