WARNING: Don't read this if you're having your breakfast.... The descriptions of his injuries do not make for light reading.
Not only did Bono require 18 screws in his arm after falling off his bike in Central Park, he also reportedly needed "three plates" inserted. This required in the region of 5 hours of surgery and Lord knows how much physio. Why so much work? No less than six fractures will do that for you.
How in the name of Jaysis did he get six fractures just falling off a bike? Well, according to Rolling Stone magazine, he was engaging in "high energy bicycle" activities, resulting in the accident. To put it another way, he was "attempting to avoid another rider."
They weren't just any other fractures either. He has a "'facial fracture involving the orbit of his eye,' three separate fractures of his left shoulder blade and a fracture of his left humerus bone in his upper arm. The latter injury was particularly damaging, with the bone shattering in six different places and tearing through his skin. According to orthopedic trauma surgeon Dean Lorich, MD, '[Bono] was taken emergently to the operating room...where the elbow was washed out and debrided, a nerve trapped in the break was moved and the bone was repaired with three metal plates and 18 screws.' On Monday, Bono underwent a second surgery to repair a fractured left pinky finger."
No one's sure what this means for U2's impending tour as yet but, hey, at least his back is OK... Remember the jip he suffered with that.
Full Statement From Dean Lorich, MD on Bono's Condition
On November 16th, Bono was involved in a high energy bicycle accident when he attempted to avoid another rider. Presented as a Trauma Alert to New York Presbyterian/Weill Cornell's Emergency Department, his Trauma Work-up at that time included multiple X-rays and CAT scans showed injuries that include:
1. Left facial fracture involving the orbit of his eye.
2. Left scapula (shoulder blade) fracture in three separate pieces.
3. Left compound distal humerus fracture where the bone of his humerus was driven though his skin and the bone was in six different pieces. He was taken emergently to the operating room for a five-hour surgery Sunday evening where the elbow was washed out and debrided, a nerve trapped in the break was moved and the bone was repaired with three metal plates and 18 screws.
4. One day later, he had surgery to his left hand to repair a fracture of his 5th metacarpal.
He will require intensive and progressive therapy, however a full recovery is expected.
Dean Lorich, MD
Orthopedic Trauma Surgeon
New York Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medical Center and Hospital For Special Surgery