There were five minutes left in the World Cup quarterfinal between Brazil and Colombia in Fortaleza. It was then when Camilo Zúñiga, in his attempt to fight for a ball, struck Neymar in the back, causing a fracture of the transverse process of the L3 vertebra.
Dr. Ángel Bigas Bonamusa, Sports Physician and member of Top Doctors, confesses that “it is not a serious injury”. Although he adds that it does not require surgery, “it requires the use of an orthopedic brace for a period of 4 to 6 weeks”. Once this month and a half approximately has passed, the Brazilian soccer player will have to undergo physiotherapy treatment for about 4 weeks, Dr. Bigas points out.
Results without sequelae
Neymar, in addition to missing the remainder of the World Cup, will not be able to start the league with his teammates: “The total period to start training and competing is between 8 and 10 weeks,” adds the doctor. Recovery from this injury usually brings the patient satisfactory results and leaves no after-effects, as Dr. Bigas confesses. Since there has been no lumbar nerve root injury, the soccer player will be ready to recover his level after completing his recovery.