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More surgery for Fitzgerald following Grand National fall

15/04/2008

Jockey Mick Fitzgerald has undergone further surgery on his neck after suffering significant injuries from his fall in the Grand National on April 5th.

The Irish National Hunt jockey fell from his mount L'Ami at the second fence during the showpiece race at Aintree ten days ago, which resulted in knee and neck injuries.

Following the race, Fitzgerald was taken to the Royal Liverpool University hospital for an MRI scan and the following day he underwent an eight-hour operation to realign three vertebrae and two discs in his neck.

After a short recovery period, the 37-year-old was moved to Nuffield hospital in Oxfordshire in order to be closer to his family, including his partner Chloe.

The latest update from the Professional Jockeys Association (PJA) on Fitzgerald's condition revealed he had undergone a second operation, which also corrected a problem in his knee where he had sustained ligament damage in the same fall.

"Mick Fitzgerald underwent a five-hour operation on his neck injury last night and is reported to have come through it very successfully," the PJA statement reads.

"His neck is now supported by a fixed brace rather than a halo, which was used prior to the surgery.

"Jeremy Fairbanks, the surgeon who carried out the operation, will be assessing Mick on an ongoing basis and if he continues to progress plans will be made in the near future for him to return home."

The statement added: "Last night Mick underwent surgery to his knee as well, to repair severe ligament damage, which he also sustained from his fall in the Grand National ten days ago.

"This is reported to have been a success."

The 2008 Grand National was won by Comply or Die, ridden by Timmy Murphy, which started the race as second-favourite behind much-fancied Cloudy Lane.