HORROR INJURY - the tackle by Martin Taylor that left Eduardo with a shattered leg

I FEARED I'D HAVE TO CUT OFF EDUARDO'S LEG

It was maybe worst injury I've seen, says surgeon

By AIDAN MAGEE, 21/02/2009

THE surgeon who saved Eduardo's career has admitted he thought he would have to amputate the Arsenal striker's leg.

Dr Khalid Baloch's first reaction when he saw Eduardo's wrecked left leg was that the horrific injury was 'limb threatening.'

BACK IN ACTION - Eduardo returned to fitness and goalscoring form for Arsenal before suffering a hamstring strain

Baloch was the consultant on duty a year ago today when Eduardo was admitted to Birmingham's Selly Oak Hospital with injuries too graphic to be shown on television following Martin Taylor's tackle at St Andrew's.

Serious

The impact of the challenge forced the bone through the skin and left Baloch believing amputation might be the only course of action.

Dr Baloch claimed: "This was definitely a limb-threatening injury and we had to act quickly. We knew from the start it was very serious but it was, perhaps, the most serious injury I have ever seen.

"Really, the fact Eduardo is back within a year is incredible because I felt after the operation that it would be at least a year before he even started kicking a ball."

Cruelly, the Brazilian-born star, 26 on Wednesday, is now out for a fortnight with a hamstring strain after making a two-goal return in Arsenal's 4-0 FA Cup fourth-round replay win over Cardiff last Monday.

Trauma

Yet Dr Baloch now believes Eduardo can cope with anything, having recovered from the trauma of such an horrendous injury.

CAREER-SAVER - surgeon Dr Khalid Baloch was horrified by the seriousness of Eduardo's injury

It was only the quick thinking of Dr Baloch and colleague Professor Keith Porter in a four-hour emergency operation which prevented the forward from losing his leg as well as his career.

Dr Baloch explained: "I was the consultant on call that weekend and any trauma came under my care - but this was something I had rarely seen before.

"Professor Porter has some dealings with Birmingham City and told me a footballer was coming to Selly Oak. We then gave him an emergency operation and his fractures were reduced and fixed.

Hospital

"I would think that probably saved his career and his leg because, even if it had happened a few years ago, it would have been the end of his playing days.

"The whole sequence of events worked in his favour. At the scene he was dealt with promptly before he was then taken to the nearest hospital. It all happened within a few hours and that gave him the best possible chance of recovery."

Selly Oak Hospital specialises in the treatment of wounded soldiers on their return from war and Dr Baloch has himself operated on victims of bomb blasts.

He described the Croatian international's return to full fitness as a model for any professional athlete who has to fight his way back from serious injury.

Amazing

At the time, though, he thought Eduardo would need at least 12 months of rehabilitation before he could even consider kicking a ball in a practice session. The surgeon considers the fact that the player is now back in Arsenal's first team 'amazing.'

He said: "When I saw Eduardo after his operation, I predicted it would take him about 12 months before he could think about training. And even then I would have said the prognosis would have been guarded. He would also have had to overcome the risk of infection and bone healing.

"When I told him it may take at least a year he was upbeat about it and an excellent, brave patient. An average person would take up to two years to readjust and get back. So, for someone like a high-level athlete to be back training in nine months is pretty amazing.

"Given that it was towards the end of February when he got such a serious injury, it is incredible. He has managed to return for club and country and score two goals - he has done fantastically well. It is a tribute to him to have complied with all the treatment he has received."

Courage

Dr Baloch believes Eduardo's inner courage carried him through rehab, even though it was possible he could have been left mentally scarred by the event. He also insists the player can still reach his full potential without fear of suffering any complications which could arise from such an injury.

He added: "Eduardo has worked incredibly hard to regain his muscle strength and to avoid joint stiffness and weakness, which is a problem patients can suffer from. If a patient develops potential complications then it is hard to get back to where he was before.

"There was always the possibility that Eduardo could have been mentally scarred by what happened. But everything went according to plan. Now he should get back to the level he was at when originally injured."

Your comments

This article has 19 comments

Mr Baloch has performed numerous surgical procedures to both of my legs and without his skill and dedication i have no doubt that i would have been in a wheelchair before i was fifty. Mr Baloch i can never repay the debt that i owe you many thanks

By Dave packwood.. Posted September 7 2010 at 10:53 PM.

tha docter did my knee cap i have had 6 operations to mek it bend more n hes done 1 n it goes 90 degrees hes amazing

By kane newton.. Posted March 22 2009 at 10:57 PM.

Top top[ player, top top physio, top top doctor!! Amazing story and congrats to all involved. I hope this inspires, players, physios, and doctors. And I hope players of the ilk of Martin Taylor think twice about where they put their size nines!

By Don.. Posted February 23 2009 at 7:14 PM.

Excellent recovery and the way Arsenal are playing they
need Ed very badly. Having fractured my hip and been
treated at the same Hospital it is so easy once you`re
fit again to forget these wonderful surgeons who save
lives and put you together again. I don`t believe the
injury was intentional by Taylor, no player in their right
minds would want to injure a fellow professional like
that.

By Rod Onions.. Posted February 22 2009 at 9:29 PM.

LEGEND.... BOTH DOCTOR AND PLAYER!

By silkyskills14.. Posted February 22 2009 at 4:26 PM.

May god bless everyone involved right from the begining in the field to full recovery, and also not to forget the love and moral support from family and team mates.

By YWChan.. Posted February 22 2009 at 4:22 PM.

The miracle for me is how the surgeon handled the nerves around the ankle. Presumably he used microsurgery. Fixing bones should be relatively easy, but how he saved the nerves and ligaments is the miracle. I wished the reporter had asked him for more details. Having had nerve damage myself and seeing my foot dangling and being unable to make it move, I can't believe how Eduardo is back. He's not as mobile in twisting and turning as he was before the injury, so fans can't expect the same player, but it's still a fantastic story.

By GD.. Posted February 22 2009 at 2:16 PM.

I suffered an almost identical breaks and dislocation about 15 months ago which left me needing 2 plates and 8 screws in my right ankle/leg.

I am so please for Edwardo that he has managed to recover and also play again. I am myself have been forced to stop playing football due to this injury.

I am just pleased I can walk most of the time with out a limp and that I can do 95% of all the stuff I used to. I have to say well done to the Doctors and rehab team for getting him back so fast.

By Chris.. Posted February 22 2009 at 1:15 PM.

Hi, United fan here, but that is amazing. The bravery involved is quite inspirational.
I mean its not only incredible he has made it back, but to grab a brace on your first game back is incredible!
Well done doc!

By Nick.. Posted February 22 2009 at 12:04 PM.

It really is (especially with his 2 goal come-back) a Roy of the Rovers type story. The boy is made of solid steel mentally.

One thing though, without in any way taking away from the surgeon (and his team's) magnificent work let's not forget Gary Lewin's quick thinking before he went on to treat him. Realising that when people are in severe shock they revert (ie in this example go back to speaking their childhood language) he grabbed hold of Gilberto and took him on with him to translate and calm Eduardo down.

By Ralph.. Posted February 22 2009 at 11:42 AM.

thanx a lot doc.we need this kid in football so much.no thanx to you stinking taylor.

By voodoo priest.. Posted February 22 2009 at 11:12 AM.

To know that the careers of those soldiers that were treated at the Hospital increased the knowledge of the surgeons is amazing. As an Arsenal fan I am trulely greatful to the doctors at Selly Oak, and they should be praised at the highest level.

By Malcolm Bainborough.. Posted February 22 2009 at 10:42 AM.

I think peolple like Dr. Khalid Baloch should get a lot of praise. Saving Eduardo leg and career has impacted positively on a lot of peoples life and this doctor should be commended publicly. Well done Doctor!!

By Tyrone A. Samuels.. Posted February 22 2009 at 9:54 AM.

... also top praise to Dr Baloch and his team. Top.

By David Ridge.. Posted February 22 2009 at 8:10 AM.

OK, so I'm a Gooner, but even if as a neutral, this story is amazing. Euduardo is amazing and totally inspiring. Credit also to the likes of Alan Smith and co. who also came back from open leg breaks, but this lad Eduardo is something else.

By David Ridge.. Posted February 22 2009 at 8:08 AM.

What a shame we dont treat surgeons like this gentleman as real heroes & superstars. As opposed to the mainly talentless sportsmen , singers & actors who adorn the front pages.

By tunadog.. Posted February 22 2009 at 7:25 AM.

Top, top player

By Jamie Redknapp.. Posted February 22 2009 at 12:48 AM.

IM SO HAPPPY HE IS BACK TO FULL FITNESS AND THE WHOLE OPERATION WENT WELL FORGET ABOUT GETTING INTO THE TEAM OR THINKING ABOUT FOOTBALL BECAUSE THAT WAS A CAREER THREATENING INJURY ALSO MEANING AN AMPUTATION WAS THOUGHT OFF AT THE TIME BUT THANK GOD THE SURGEONS AND HOSPITAL TEAM REACTED WITH BELIEFE AND CONFIDENCE AND HIS BACK AND SOLID AS EVER GOD WAS WITH HIM THE WHOLE WAY MAY HE JUST RETURN NOW IN ONE PIECE FROM THE LITTLE HAMSTRING.... .......""""""""WELCOME BACK EDUARDO""""""""""............

By MOOQS.. Posted February 22 2009 at 12:33 AM.

Thank God for the doctor's prognosis. We can all sigh a sigh of relief now that there will be no further complications.

By on d gooner.. Posted February 21 2009 at 11:30 PM.

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