Kubica undergoes nine hours of surgery

Formula One star Robert Kubica underwent nine hours of surgery on his foot and arm on Friday

Kubica was badly injured in a crash during the Ronde di Andora rally in Liguria on Sunday.

He was airlifted to hospital and underwent seven hours of surgery to save the functionality of his hand.

And a new operation to rebuild his foot, shoulder and the inner part of his elbow on Friday lasted even longer.

"We finished the second surgical intervention on his upper arm, which was already compromised in a previous accident," said orthopaedic surgeon Dr Francesco Lanza.

"We gave him a bone graft and inserted a plate. We operated on the inner part of the upper arm but we still have to operate on the outer part."

Kubica will return to intensive care for two days.

Dr Igor Rossello, who operated on the Pole's hand, said it had shown no bad reaction to the second operation.

"Robert's hand reacted well to this phase, the blood circulation has been restored and it's not swollen," he said.

Earlier on Friday, Kubica gave his first interview since Sunday's accident, speaking to La Gazzetta dello Sport.

"The fingers work, I can feel them. My arm too. But they still need to operate on me and only after that will we know," he said.

"I don't have much pain but I'm sedated. After the last operation, the countdown to my return to the track will begin."

The Lotus Renault GP driver was racing a Skoda Fabia in the Italian rally when he lost control at high speed on a bend, crashing into a guard rail and ending up in a church wall.

His co-driver, Jacub Gerber, emerged from the wreck unhurt but Kubica remained inside until emergency services removed him from the wreckage and transferred him to Santa Corona hospital in Pietra Ligure.

Source: Channelnewsasia
Courtesy: momo

Kubica: I will return to Formula One

Injured Lotus Renault driver Robert Kubica plans to return to racing before the end of the year

The Pole is responding well to treatment in a hospital in Italy after suffering multiple fractures to his arm and leg and a partially severed right hand following a crash in Sunday's Ronde di Andora rally.

Kubica, who will undergo further surgery on Friday, is expected to miss the whole of the 2011 season but he told Gazzetta dello Sport: "I want to return this year.

"I am really determined to reduce the recovery time with a very defined programme."

Kubica had seven hours of surgery after he was airlifted to a hospital in Savona following the crash where doctors worked to reattach his right hand.

"The fingers work and so does the arm, I can feel them," he said.

"But I still have to undergo another operation and then I will know.

"I cannot move much right now. But I don't have much pain because I'm sedated.

"On Saturday I will be able to know what my condition is after I undergo the double surgery (arm and foot).

"Then there will be the countdown to begin preparation. I only have that in mind.

"I want to return stronger than before."

The 26-year-old has had serious accidents in the past, requiring surgery to his left arm after being a passenger in a road accident in 2003, and then missing the 2007 United States Grand Prix after a serious crash in Canada.

"After this accident, you are no longer the same, you are better," he said.

"I had already gone through that in 2007 after the crash in Canada.

"I was out for one race and when I came back I was better. A driver is not just about accelerating and steering.

"There is a difference between those that drive at 85 per cent and those that drive at 95 per cent. The 15 per cent remaining is the capacity and motivation that comes out of you.

"Since 2007, I'm a stronger driver and I'm stronger mentally. It will be the same this time when I recover physically."

Kubica said he was still trying to piece together the sequence of events that led to his accident.

Kubica's car left the road and collided with the wall of a church, with a guard-rail penetrating the front of his Skoda Fabia and causing his injuries.

"I really don't know what happened because I don't remember anything of the accident," he said. "I just found myself in hospital and my agent Daniele Morelli has explained everything to me.

"I am saddened with what has happened. It should not have happened.

"I am sorry for my mother because I have made her worry and suffer.

"One does this job but never thinks of the consequences. I just know that I did the rally and now I am in this bed."

But Kubica has no regrets about taking part in the rally, although Lotus Renault have come in for criticism for allowing him to take part.

"Rallies are my passion," he said.

"They are a hard training, severe for Formula One.

"I drive better in Formula One because I have taken part in many rallies.

"The rallies help you in concentration, considering that in Formula One there are very few tests.

"Rallies have allowed me to work on certain areas that I can improve on. It is important in a season where you have 20 grands prix."

Asked if he would take part in future rallies once he recovers, Kubica said: "I don't know, we will see at the time."

Source: Planet-F1

Agent confident over Kubica surgery

Robert Kubica is expected to make a full recovery after he was airlifted to hospital following a high-speed crash in a rally event in Italy on Sunday morning.

Kubica had to be cut from the Skoda Fabia he was driving after his car crashed into a wall during the Rally Ronde di Andora. His co-driver, Jacub Gerber, walked away unscathed.

His Lotus Renault GP team confirmed that Kubica suffered "multiple fractures to his right arm, leg and hand" in the incident, and he underwent surgery at the Santa Corona Hospital near Genoa on Sunday afternoon.

Kubica's agent, Daniele Morelli, is confident his client will be able to return to action.

"The surgeons are trying to restore the functions of his right hand," Morelli said. "They have already revascularized the limb and repaired the bone structure.

"Now they have to think about the muscular functions but Robert has strong character and he will make it."

Fernando Alonso voiced his support for the Renault driver, who is expected to miss the start of the season which begins in Bahrain next month.

"Let's all support Robert Kubica, who suffered an accident today. Besides a great driver, he is a great person," Alonso wrote on his Twitter page.

"I'm thinking of Robert, wish him all the best and hope to see him soon on the track and especially off-track as a friend," Timo Glock said, while Williams' Rubens Barrichello Tweeted: "I would like to ask you for your best wishes to Kubica. He is being operated on right now. We all like him and he deserves all the best."

Source: ESPNF1

Kubica having surgery after rally crash

Robert Kubica is undergoing surgery in Italy, it has emerged.

The Pole was seriously injured in a rally crash on Sunday and is reported to have leg, hand and internal injuries.

His F1 team, Lotus-sponsored Renault, confirmed that Kubica has "multiple fractures to his right arm, leg and hand".

Renault also confirmed that surgery is currently underway.

And the ANSA news agency said Igor Rossello, a hand specialist, will perform the surgery on one of the Renault F1 driver’s hands.

A detailed medical bulletin has therefore been delayed.

"All assessments have yet to be made," said official Roberto Carrozzino. "An amputation is not a decision that is made so rapidly. I do not confirm or deny this report."

Photographs of the crashed car show severe frontal damage, and French sports channel Eurosport said the 26-year-old may also be suffering a damaged hip and multiple other injuries.

Renault’s reserve drivers are Bruno Senna and Romain Grosjean. Daniel Morelli, Robert’s manager, will be available for the press in front of the hospital emergency entrance at 16h30 CET.

Source: Nextgen Auto

Video: Robert Kubica car crash at Andora Rally 2011

Source: ivg.it

Rally di Andora, the accident pilot Robert Kubica: arm amputee

Robert Kubica closes dramatically automotive career at Andover, on the heights of Testico. Doctors Hospital Santa Corona in Pietra Ligure, where he was transported in serious condition this morning, have an arm amputee runner Polish.

The sports for years among the big F1 crashed around 9 against a guardrail, seriously injured the other, as well as trauma and internal injuries. Kubica, 26, was driving a Skoda Fabia when the car, on a slight slope to 4.6 km from the start of the Ronde, in San Lorenzo in the municipality of Testico, it left the road at high speed crashing at the roadside .

The navigator of Kubica, Jakub Gerber, escaped unhurt from the car.

Statement from Renault:

"After undergoing extensive medical checks this morning, Robert Kubica has been diagnosed with multiple fractures to his right arm, leg and hand. He is currently undergoing surgery at the Santa Corona Hospital in Pietra Ligure.

“Robert suffered a high-speed accident this morning while competing in the Ronde di Andora Rally.

“Daniel Morelli, Robert’s manager, will be available for the press in front of the hospital emergency entrance at 16h30 CET.

“Lotus Renault GP driver, Robert Kubica, suffered an accident at high speed this morning while competing in the Ronde di Andora Rally.

“The driver was airlifted to Pietra Ligure Hospital, where he is currently undergoing medical checks. His co-driver is fine.”

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