The joy of winning the first match of Euro 2024 for the French team was ruined by the injury of the team’s leader, Killian Mbappé. As a result of a terrible collision with Austrian national team defender Kevin Danso, the French captain broke his nose.
The media reported about a possible operation, but then information came that the forward managed to avoid surgery and would return to action closer to the playoffs. The footballer himself is already training and wants to play against Holland today. It is still an unknown if he will eventually take the field.
We asked specialists in the field of sports medicine about the nuances of this injury, standard recovery periods and possible consequences.
Words from the former doctor of the Russian national team and Spartak, Mikhail Vartapetov.
— How long can a broken nose keep Mbappé out of the lineup? – We need to know the details. The fracture may or may not be displaced. A displaced fracture requires reduction and slightly longer recovery times, possibly up to a month. Mbappé, as can be seen from open sources, has no displacement, which means that within two weeks he will be able to enter the field with a protective mask.
This does not mean that Mbappé does not train for two weeks, he can work individually to avoid losing shape. It all depends on small nuances, the details of which I do not know. But I think that in the Euro Cup playoffs, theoretically, we will be able to see him on the field.
Kylian Mbappé
Photo: Jan Woitas/Picture Alliance via Getty Images
—What risks do these types of injuries entail in the future? – If the nasal fracture is displaced, it is literally removed in the first days, so that there are no breathing problems later. This is very important for any athlete. Now, this type of intervention takes a few minutes: restoring the correct geometry of the nose.
Often a broken nose is combined with a concussion. In this case, neurosurgeons ask to be more careful with stress and gradually increase physical activity throughout the week. But for this you need to know the data of additional examination methods: CT, MRI of the brain.
Here are the details of what happened:
Will Mbappé continue playing in this Euro Cup? What is known about the Frenchman’s broken nose?
We also talked about the most resonant injury of Euro 2024 with former Lokomotiv doctor, Nikita Karlitsky.
—Why didn’t Mbappé have a nose job, even though he was diagnosed with a fracture? – In such a situation, they operate immediately or after a week. But what is surgery? I don’t know if putting two iron rods in the nose and repairing the fracture with local anesthesia can be called an operation. However, the most important thing for a footballer is respiratory problems. If a displaced septum due to a nasal fracture interferes with breathing, then surgery is necessary. If not and the player feels fine, this procedure is more cosmetic in nature.
There will be a break after the European Championship and then the operation can be carried out. However, this is a rational thing for the player to choose. If a player says that he wants to play and this does not interfere, he will continue playing immediately. The noses of football players, like the teeth of hockey players, are “consumables.”
—Isn’t it dangerous to play with a broken nose and a mask? — If a footballer wears a protective mask, he will be able to play in the next match, but if it is adapted, he will be able to play only one week after the adjustment. In addition, any strong blow to the nose will nullify all the doctor’s work. If there’s no clear respiratory disorder, then I’m not a fan of operating those things during a major tournament.
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A protective mask naturally reduces the angle of vision. This bothers some players and prevents them from playing. But I think they will make a custom 3D mask for Mbappé. We made those masks and the footballer played calmly. We had several cases in which they let us go out with a mask for the next game. It protects very well: it redirects the blow to the nose, cheekbones and forehead. Therefore, if the mask is well made, it will be difficult to re-injure the nose.
— Could Mbappé get worse as the tournament progresses? —If Mbappé receives a blow to the nose, the bones can move more. But if they operate on him and hit him the same way, everything will stay the same. Of course, you can leave the game permanently for a couple of weeks. Playing with a broken nose will not affect his health in any way, unless it bothers his breathing, which will affect his stamina. Everything depends on him. But it seems to me that he has some reserve in terms of resistance. After all, the load in training is greater than in games.
— Have there been similar cases in your practice? – Certainly. François Camano once had his cheekbone broken. There was only a dent at the impact site! And he shook it off, said he wanted to finish the game and he finished it. He later rejected the operation and played two more games before returning home. And then he didn’t have surgery either.
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