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in collaboration with
Dr Gérald Kierzek (Medical Director of Doctissimo)
This Sunday, world champion Julian Alaphilippe fell heavily 62 kilometers from the finish of Liège-Bastogne-Liège. Victim of fractures and a pneumothorax, he was embarked in an ambulance.
This is the athlete’s third fall in two months. World cycling champion Julian Alaphilippe suffered a big collective fall on the descent leading to the Col du Rosier. According to France Télévisions, he was conscious after the incident and was taken to hospital.
Two broken ribs, a fractured scapula and a hemopneumothorax
On Sunday, part of the peloton found itself on the ground on the road, 62 kilometers from the finish of Liège-Bastogne-Liège. This collective fall, which involved around thirty runners, also hit Alaphilippe hard. The cyclist ended up in a ditch next to the road, at the foot of a tree.
“I saw Julian 5 or 6 meters below and it was an emotional shock“, said Romain Bardet, the first to come to the aid of the world champion at the team. “No one was coming and he really needed help. It was an emergency. Julian couldn’t move or breathe. He felt conscious but he couldn’t really speak.”.
Julian Alaphilippe, conscious and lying on the ground, was taken care of a few minutes later by the trainers.
“The world champion suffered two broken ribs, a fractured scapula and hemopneumothorax, his Quick-Step team said. His condition is stable, but he will have to be hospitalized for observation. Both (he and Bardet) will go by ambulance to Herentals for further examinations and treatments“.
Other runners have borne the brunt of this collective fall, such as Frenchman Dorian Godon, who suffers from a fractured left collarbone requiring surgery and a fractured right wrist, according to news broadcast by his AG2R team. Citroen.
What is a hemopneumonthorax?
“Following a trauma to the thorax, blood and air become lodged between the lung and the chest wall. rib fractures cause lung perforation and bleeding. As a result, the lung will detach from the chest wall, like a balloon that deflates and retracts, resulting in acute respiratory distress.”explains Dr. Kierzek, emergency doctor and medical director of Doctissimo.
“The vital prognosis being engaged, immediate care is essential. says Dr Gérald Kierzek.
The doctor also states:air and blood should be evacuated as quickly as possible”. The treatment thus consists of drainage of the pleural cavity by a chest drain and in case of ineffectiveness or abundant hemopneumonthorax, surgery is necessary to evacuate the hematoma and reattach the lung.
This traumatic pneumothorax is to be differentiated from spontaneous pneumothorax, which is caused by the rupture of small air bubbles located at the edge of the lungs or by pulmonary fragility. Symptoms most often occur without exertion.
These signs are characterized by:
- The appearance of severe pain on one side of the chest. This pain is present on the side or back of the ribs, like a stitch in the side;
- An irritating dry cough that increases the pain;
- Usually very mild shortness of breath.
If you feel severe pain on one side of your chest, call emergency services immediately or see a doctor.