MotoGP: Pedrosa Undergoes 2nd Operation

MotoGP News

Although Dani Pedrosa suffered from numbness in his left arm, he battled to two podium finishes so far in the 2011 MotoGP Championship: third in Qatar, and second in Jerez.

In hopes of remaining on the podium for the rest of the 2011 MotoGP season, the Respol Honda rider decided to undergo a second surgery after Jerez to help relieve these symptoms.

On Monday, Pedrosa went under the knife at the Teknon Medical Centre in Barcelona, where Dr. Cesar Garcia-Madrid, vascular surgeon, and Dr. Joaquim Casanas, trauma and orthopedic surgeon, performed an operation to decompress the left subclavian artery.

The artery was affected from the plate and screws inserted in Pedrosa’s shoulder following his crash in Motegi last season.

Repsol Honda reports: “In order to release the arterial compression, the titanium plate and the screws fixed to the collarbone have been removed. The subclavian artery has also been separated from the fibrotic tissues that surrounded costoclavicular space. At the same time, intraoperative angiography by minimally invasive transfemoral approach confirmed the return of the subclavian flow.

“The medical checks performed last week at Institut Vascular Sala Planell, including several physical tests and four dimensional CT with contrast in specific positions, confirmed that the symptoms of pain, numbness and lack of strength in Dani’s left arm were due to compression of the subclavian artery secondary to the collarbone fracture.”

Pedrosa will remain hospitalized for two days, continuing treatment with analgesia and anti-inflammatories. The Spaniard is expected to begin rehabilitation next week in hopes of returning to optimal fitness for the Portuguese Grand Prix in Estoril on May 1.

Pedrosa sustained a double fracture to his left collarbone after a crash at the Japanese Grand Prix in Motegi last season. He underwent surgery, having the plate and screws inserted.

He missed the subsequent three races, returning for the final two 2010 MotoGP rounds. Although he missed these races, he finished second in the championship behind Jorge Lorenzo (Yamaha Factory Racing).

This year, Pedrosa is part of the only three-man team in MotoGP; the Repsol Honda team features Pedrosa, Casey Stoner and Andrea Dovizioso.

As for 2011 MotoGP, Pedrosa is currently second in the championhip with 36 points, nine behind leader and fellow countryman Lorenzo.

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