Expert explains severity of Corinthians defender's injury, likely lay-off | OneFootball

Gabriel Paulista did not take part in Corinthians’ 3-1 defeat to Fluminense last Sunday at Neo Química Arena. The center-back suffered a sprain of the medial collateral ligament in his right knee and has begun the recovery process. To explain what this type of injury means and the possible timelines for a return to the pitch, orthopedist and knee surgeon Dr. Alexandre Mestriner gave an interview to Meu Timão.

Located on the inner side of the knee, the medial collateral ligament can be injured in situations involving twists or impacts to the joint. Before defining the medical approach, however, it is necessary to determine whether the problem is limited to the ligament or if other structures were also affected.

Photo: Rodrigo Coca/Agência Corinthians

“I still don’t have information on exactly what Gabriel Paulista’s injury is, whether it was an isolated injury to the medial collateral ligament or whether it is associated with other structures in the knee. Normally, when an injury to the medial collateral ligament — which is located on the inner side of the knee — happens in isolation, the prognosis is usually much better than, for example, that of an anterior cruciate ligament injury,” the specialist began.

The specialist also pointed out that this type of injury has a particular characteristic compared to anterior cruciate ligament problems. Even in certain cases of a complete medial collateral ligament tear, recovery can be achieved without the need for surgery.

“Even if there is a complete rupture of the medial collateral ligament, high-demand athletes generally do not need surgery, unlike what usually happens in anterior cruciate ligament injuries, as was the case with Zakaria Labyad. Treatment normally consists of a knee protection protocol for a few weeks and, afterward, physical therapy, so that the athlete can fully return to the activities required by the sport,” he added.

The time away from the pitch depends directly on the extent of the damage. According to Alexandre Mestriner, a milder injury may allow a return in about a month, while more serious cases may require up to three months of recovery.

“According to sports medicine protocols, a high-performance athlete should be sidelined for four to six weeks if he has suffered only a sprain of the medial collateral ligament. However, if there is a complete injury, even without a surgical indication, the recovery time may reach up to three months. What will actually determine how long this athlete will be out is the combination of two factors: imaging tests, especially MRI, and the physical examination carried out by the doctor,” he noted.

The clinical evaluation is also essential to establish the severity of the problem. In addition to imaging tests, the doctor may perform specific maneuvers to check the stability of the joint and identify any associated injuries.

“In this examination, we perform specific maneuvers on the knee to check whether the injury is truly isolated or whether there was damage to other structures, such as the meniscus or the anterior cruciate ligament itself. If there are no associated injuries, the tendency is for the athlete to have a good recovery without surgery, but still respecting a period of approximately six to twelve weeks, which may reach three months depending on the severity of the case,” he concluded.

Considering the initial recovery estimate, Gabriel Paulista could miss Corinthians’ next important matches. The team will face Internacional on October 7 and Palmeiras four days later, in the 28th and 29th rounds of the Brazilian Championship, respectively.

To fill the vacancy left by the center-back, Fernando Diniz is relying mainly on youngsters Iago Machado and João Pedro Tchoca, who appear as options to play alongside Gustavo Henrique. Another squad alternative, André Ramalho, remains out of training due to a case of labyrinthitis. So far, the defender still does not have a set timetable to return to activities.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇧🇷 here.