Cal Crutchlow has finally undergone surgery to repair his left collarbone that he fractured during qualifying at Silverstone after surgery was delayed for two days as doctors assessed a suspected non-displacement fracture of his C2 vertebrae.
Given the all clear after CAT scans showed no damage to his neck, the Yamaha Tech3 rider was transferred to the Royal Derby Hospital where he underwent surgery to have a titanium plate and several screws inserted in the shoulder.
Unfortunately Crutchlow reported that his break is a lot worse that the one suffered by team mate Colin Edwards, who raced to a third place podium at the Silverstone GP nine days after breaking his right collarbone.
The American would have tried to race even the day after surgery in order not to break his 141 race starts record if the circuit doctors at Catalunya hadn’t nixed it.
Edwards however, reported that he had no pain after surgery, quite different from his team mate’s current situation.
“The operation on my collarbone was a success and the doctors seems really happy with the outcome.
But I am still in a lot of pain, said Crutchlow.
“Unfortunately, the break is a lot worse than the one my team-mate Colin Edwards had in Catalunya and I’ve got different pain and movement levels.
And I’ve spent two days lying on my back with a suspected neck injury, so my shoulder just got swollen.
I am not very happy that this had happened to me in my home race at Silverstone when things were going really well for the weekend and I don’t know if I will ride in Assen.
We will have to wait and see, but I’ll be trying 100 per cent to be there if I can.
”However,Crutchlow tweeted : ” … I am in a lot of pain, & just because Colin rode a week later it doesn’t mean I can.
People asking about Assen, I just don’t know.
My shoulder is really badly swollen as I had to lay flat on my back for 2 days with the neck…My break was worse & more difficult to repair… but in a few days I may feel ok.
I will see but am not risking my health or anyone else’s to ride a circuit I already know!”