November 24, (THEWILL) – Victor Osimhen’s fracture to his eye socket and cheekbone required “six plaques and 18 screws” to hold in place, according to the surgeon who operated on him after the “devastating” injury he suffered in the Napoli versus Inter Milan Sunday fixture.
It came from an unintentional head collision with Inter defender Milan Skriniar at San Siro, but the Nigerian centre forward’s face was severely damaged and he was immediately taken off the pitch, as THEWILL reported.
Although examinations later revealed that the degree of the injury resulted in several fractures to the cheekbone and orbital bone, it was immediately obvious from the swelling that resulted that the 22-year-old had sustained a fracture of some kind.
Surgeon Gianpaolo Tartaro, who carried out the procedure explained: “Osimhen’s injury was not just a simple fracture to the cheekbone, as it involved many other bones in his face.
“It wasn’t an impact injury, it was one of compression. The kinetic force generated by the crushing of Osimhen’s face against the back of Skriniar’s head did devastating damage.
“In order to repair the fractures, I had to insert six plaques and up to 18 screws.”
Despite the fact that a full recovery is expected to take 90 days, Osimhen’s surgeon cautioned that it was still too early to know the entire extent of the injuries.
“It really was a complex operation. The condition of his face was really bad, but I can guarantee the surgery was a complete success.”
Before this unexpected setback, Osimhen had scored five Serie A goals and four in the Europa League this season, making him Napoli’s most prolific player. He was also poised to lead the attack lineup of the Super Eagles in the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).
The surgeon’s comments imply that Osimhen will be out of action for a lengthy period that effectively rules Nigeria’s most impressive performer out of AFCON that commences in January next year in Cameroon.
About the Author
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
