American skiing icon Lindsey Vonn is desperately hoping to leave hospital in Treviso, Italy and return to the United States in the coming days, but only after undergoing a critical fourth surgery on her shattered left leg this Saturday. This follows a horrific crash just thirteen seconds into her downhill race at the Winter Olympics last Sunday, where she was already competing with a torn ACL in her left knee.
Severe Injury and Amputation Concerns
The 41-year-old champion suffered a 'complex tibia fracture' during the Milan-Cortina Games, with her screams echoing on the course. After being airlifted to Ca' Foncello Hospital in Treviso, Vonn has endured three procedures already, led by surgeon Stefano Zanarella. Alarmingly, a specialist has warned that 'injuries like hers can end in amputation,' highlighting the gravity of her condition.
Surgeon Stefano Zanarella told Corriere del Veneto, 'We're proud to have handled a delicate situation, without neglecting other daily emergencies. The staff are trained and ready to intervene at any time; we approached this complicated case with a team of experts, coordinating every step of the recovery process, which we are satisfied with.'
Vonn's Emotional Update and Recovery Timeline
In an emotional update from her hospital bed on Friday, Vonn thanked her social media followers for their overwhelming support as she awaits further medical updates. She revealed she needs at least two more operations, including Saturday's procedure.
'Tomorrow I'll have another surgery and hopefully that goes well, then I can potentially leave and go back home - at which point I will need another surgery,' Vonn explained. 'I still don't know exactly what that entails yet until I get some better imaging, but that's kind of where I am right now.'
Vonn expressed gratitude for the 'amazing' hospital staff and the flood of letters, notes, and flowers from well-wishers, along with visits from friends and family. She added, 'I just want to say thank you... and go Team USA! It's been great to watch and is really lifting my spirits, so good job team and keep crushing it.'
Expert Opinions on the Injury's Severity
The damage to Vonn's leg necessitates multiple surgeries, with orthopedic expert Dr Bertrand Sonnery-Cottet from Lyon noting that some similar injuries require amputation. He told RMC Sport, 'The timeline is quite unpredictable. It will be months before she can walk normally again. Her goal now is first and foremost to keep her leg and be able to walk. I think we're not yet at the stage of returning to high-level skiing. We're not there yet, but some injuries like hers can end in amputation.'
Dr Sonnery-Cottet continued, 'The latest images posted on her Instagram account show that, even though the surgeries were successful, the 'external fixator' - that is, the enormous pin they put in her left leg - proves that they haven't been able to fully repair her fracture. It's only temporary for now. It's important to understand that her injury is extremely serious and will cause her problems for at least months, and could even leave her with lifelong consequences.'
He also pointed out that this type of injury is more commonly associated with traffic accidents, particularly among motorcyclists, underscoring its severity.
Additional Medical Insights
Another French surgeon, Nicolas Baudrier, told L'Equipe, 'From what we can see in the skier's posts and photos, these are very serious injuries that required the application of an external fixator. There were probably several bone fragments (comminuted fracture). With possible skin, nerve, or muscle damage, increasing the severity of the injury.'
Despite the challenges, Vonn has insisted that her pre-existing torn ACL did not contribute to the crash, focusing instead on her recovery journey ahead.
