Rome (AFP)
Italian disabled cycling champion Alex Zanardi, who was seriously injured nearly two weeks ago, has undergone a third operation and his life prognosis remains unclear, said the hospital in Siena in a statement released on Monday.
Carried out by experts in neurosurgery and maxillofacial surgery, the intervention lasted five hours and, according to the press release, aimed "at the craniofacial reconstruction and the stabilization of the zones affected" by the trauma suffered during the accident from the former Formula 1 driver on June 19.
"The operation carried out is part of the interventions planned by the multidisciplinary team which takes care of the athlete to allow the continuation of his therapeutic journey", details the press release.
Zanardi's state of health "remains stable from the cardio-respiratory and metabolic point of view, serious from the neurological point of view, and his vital prognosis remains reserved," he said.
Zanardi was very badly hit in the head on June 19 in an accident at the controls of his hand bike. He crashed into a truck and suffered numerous facial fractures.
A former Formula 1 driver, Zanardi has become one of the great figures in disabled sports after being amputated in both legs in 2001 following a terrible accident during a racing race of the IndyCar championship on the German circuit of Lausitzring.
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