Additional surgery for Lizeroux, will miss 2012
French slalom skier Julien Lizeroux will miss next season.
The double silver medalist from the 2009 World Championships had last season cut short by a knee injury and subsequent operation. An MRI June 6th confirmed he would require a second operation and will miss the 2012 season.
Lizeroux said an MRI in April showed a partial avulsion of his quadricep tendon (above the kneecap) and he had undergone extensive therapy throughout May in an effort to avoid surgery.
“I’ve been in therapy during the month of May to try to avoid surgery,” he said. “I redid an MRI on Monday, June 6, which showed no positive trend compared to previous images. After a visit to the doctor’s, I decided to have surgery Monday, June 20 at the hospital of Lyon Mermoz. It will be a major operation that will involve re-attaching the tendon on the patella, and enhancement of the muscle.”
Lizeroux expects a long recovery period, including two months on crutches followed by two months of rehab. He believes to be able to begin physical training again four months after the operation with serious training only possible after seven months. As a result he does not plan on competing next season but hopes to be back on the top level for the season 2012/13.