Dr. Cotorro, on Nadal: “Now we have a high percentage of chances to succeed”

Rafael Nadal He is scheduled to be discharged from the Teknon clinic in Barcelona this Saturday, June 3, the day of his 37th birthday, after a hip intervention the previous day.

“The intervention was arthroscopic for his left psoas tendon injury that kept him out of competition. The operation was positive, it consisted of cleaning the fibrotic and degenerated areas of the tendon both proximal and distal, as well as sewing it. to strengthen it properly. In the second half, an old injury to the labrum of his left hip was also regularized, which will certainly help the better evolution of the tendon,” said the official statement from Manacorí team.

Your trusted doctor Angel Ruiz-Cotorro, He returned to Paris this Saturday morning, after the intervention, to continue his work as medical manager of the Spanish Tennis Federation (RFET) in Roland Garros.

In this facility, he attends to the displaced Spanish media, among them World of Sportseither. reviewed the situation of Rafael Nadal after “a slow, very smooth operation. He was in the operating room for about two and a half hours.”

Why did it end in the operating room?

“Because we know we have a major problem and because a muscle is not the same as a tendon. Every time we ask for a load it develops gradually, but with larger loads it doesn’t respond because it not strong enough. That’s why ” What we entered into this operation, because we had that question of whether we could solve it that way. Now we have the security and peace of mind that what you see is what is there and that you solve it”.

When was the decision made?

“Relatively recently, because we tried all the conservative treatments, which is what should be done in these cases. When the situation does not work, decisions have to be made. We met, consulted and decided to opt for surgery with Dr. Mark Philippon , who is the Pope of hip arthroscopy and a very good friend of mine”.

Will he be able to compete again with guarantees at his age?

“In surgery you can be happy because you are doing what you can. And if we respect the times, I think we can recover. Rushing these things is not good company. We are talking about five months because this is the season That gives you security, but we don’t have a strict schedule. The season will end. Goals are important so that the player has a stimulus.

Success rate?

“I don’t want to talk about the success rate, but we have a high chance of success in the situation we have now. All that’s left of the tendon is healthy, regenerative. You have to give it time and fear that rebuild.”

What can and cannot do today Rafa Nadal?

Rehab started today. It is an operation that allows you things and prohibits you from others. About ten days of fairly limited rehabilitation, but he’ll start cycling and swimming right away. The bike can be open, in the pool for three or four days because it doesn’t weigh. And yes, you need to eliminate exercises that affect the tendon. Then there is a recovery period for the first six weeks and from tests to supplement rehabilitation. This is what we did with conservative treatment and it didn’t work. Now you have the certainty that in the operation you know how the tendon is and how it was.

Five months, period to heal or play racket too?

It was five months in total. It’s very difficult to say five months of playing one hundred percent. In those five months, it includes everything, but maybe we need to extend another one to outline the shape a little more. The Davis Cup (late November) will tell their feelings.

How is Rafa Nadal’s morale?

“He’s not happy. It’s time to assimilate this situation he already knows, but that puts you in a new situation. He accepted it quickly and tomorrow he will start calmly to start the recovery. This is a normal that process, when you know what’s there and it’s Confirm and from there is the period of acceptance and from there to.