Alpine ski star Lindsey Vonn underwent her ninth knee operation since her high-speed crash during the Olympic downhill in February, Sveriges Radio reported.
The 42-year-old American skier posted updates on Instagram showing the screws removed from her leg following the procedure. Vonn crashed just 13 seconds into the Olympic downhill at her favored venue in Cortina d’Ampezzo, sustaining a bone fracture that required initial emergency helicopter transport and eight previous surgeries, SVT Nyheter reported.
Vonn competed in that Olympic race with an already torn anterior cruciate ligament. The latest surgery aimed to remove all medical implants and screws that stabilized her knee through previous procedures so surgeons could finally repair the torn ACL, according to Aftonbladet.
”I’m praying it’s my last,” Vonn said, according to Sveriges Radio.
Lindsey Vonn addresses her career and upcoming operation
Vonn appeared at a gala on Monday before checking in for the scheduled operation, Aftonbladet reported.
While her father publicly stated her career was over immediately following the Olympic crash, Vonn has kept her athletic future open, SVT Nyheter reported.
”There are still things that can change during the operation, so we’ll have to wait and see how it goes, but I will keep you updated on my progress when I am done with the surgery and recovering,” Vonn said, according to SVT Nyheter.
Questions about Lindsey Vonn's Olympic crash and surgeries
When did Lindsey Vonn crash during the Olympics?
Vonn crashed in February during the Olympic downhill event in Cortina d’Ampezzo, according to SVT Nyheter.
How many operations has Lindsey Vonn undergone on her leg?
Vonn has undergone nine surgeries on her left leg since the Olympic crash and the preceding ligament damage, Aftonbladet reported.
What was the specific purpose of the ninth surgery?
Surgeons removed all medical screws and hardware implanted during eight previous procedures to enable a proper repair of her anterior cruciate ligament, Aftonbladet reported.
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