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Kubica could be sidelined for 2011
By Jonathan Noble and Michele Lostia Sunday, February 6th 2011, 22:10 GMT
Robert Kubica could be out of action for the whole of the 2011 Formula 1 season as a result of the serious injuries he sustained in his rally crash on Sunday, medical staff have said.
The Renault driver underwent a seven-hour operation earlier today at the Santa Corona Hospital in Pietra Ligure following his accident on the opening stage of the Ronde di Andora rally.
He had lost control of his Super 2000 Skoda Fabia just a few kilometres into the event and crashed into a wall. The impact resulted in a length of crash barrier penetrating the cockpit of the car and hitting Kubica, badly injuring the right-hand side of his body.
As well as multiple fractures to his right arm, leg and hand, of more immediate concern was his partially severed right hand.
There were fears that the hand may have had to be amputated, but doctors managed to reattach the blood supply during a lengthy operation and are hoping the repair will be successful.
Doctor Igor Rossello, who is a hand specialist, told local media on Sunday night that it would take several days for doctors to assess the success of the operation - and warned that Kubica could need up to one year to recover.
"We need to wait for a week at least to verify whether the hand survives," Dr Rossello was quoted as saying by Italian media. "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."
Dr Rossello said that he expected it would take at least 12 months before Kubica would be able to drive an F1 car again - although he admitted racing drivers often recovered from injury far quicker than predicted.
When asked what the best prediction for Kubica to be back racing, he said: "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."
http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/89315
