Gustavo Adolfo Uriza Sinisterra, a neurosurgeon by profession and a rocker by passion, is one of the angels who keeps Egan Bernal alive.
He, together with a group of professionals from the Clinic of the University of La Sabana, contributed to the accelerated recovery of the Colombian cyclist, who on January 24, while training on the roads of Cundinamarca, suffered a serious accident in which he was regarding to die
This week, during a virtual conversation, Uriza drew attention by expressing that Bernal, who had to undergo several surgeries on his spine, right leg and hand to correct 20 fractures, might return to competition at the end of May.
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In a conversation with El Colombiano, the spinal surgery expert explained well what he meant regarding Egan’s recovery. He spoke of the rehabilitation process experienced with the athlete, of the expectations that there are to see him once more at the highest level and of the silent work that is done from a hospital center, beyond the person, in order to ensure the health of each patient.
Hey doctor, you already became famous as Egan…
“No, well how, God save me. We doctors have to have a lower profile.”
Not so short, because seeing him in his profile picture with an electric guitar in his hand, you can see that he plays a lot…
“(Laughs) That’s right, I love it, a taste similar to that of Egan, a Chinese who is cool, that ‘pelao’ is a berraquera”.
Speaking of Bernal, what was the first thing you thought of him when you saw him arrive at the hospital in those difficult conditions?
“Jumm, I remember saying: ‘My God, poor thing, what would the blow that was given to be that way be like.’ Then, as I do with any trauma patient, it was running to see how we might improve it, looking to save what had to be saved.”
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And they saved his life, in fact the runner can walk, now he even rides a bicycle, something surprising, miraculous…
“Yes, obviously it was the result of multidisciplinary work, of dedicated people. I had to lead the spinal section, but there were general surgeons, orthopedists, maxillofacial surgeons, hand surgeons, intensive care unit doctors, internists, respiratory, physical, and occupational therapists, nurses… a whole human team was mobilized, but something must be highlighted, they mobilized as is done with each of our patients, we attend to all of them with the same degree of dedication and empathy. It was not treated like this because it is Egan, nothing like that, in this institution basically our patients are from EPS and they are all given the same attention”.
Seeing Egan already on his bike, was his spinal injury that serious?
“There are parts of the patient’s clinical history that are reserved, but his injury was very serious and there is a high percentage of people who can lose their gait (not be able to walk). What we did was preserve that function with all available technology and plan how to rebuild her spine to make it as functional as possible, and those goals were achieved.”
Had you had a patient similar to Bernal?
“Egan is one of a kind, he has impressive mental power, but also a surprising physical and biological part, not only the result of training but also of his genetics. It’s very special to see someone who recovers so quickly following such serious injuries.”
Who is Egan for you?
“The super human who represents the best of all Colombians. In addition to his mental part, he is a well-bred boy, with good values, he is a forward-thinking young man who thinks of bettering himself and his family, educated, intelligent, hard-working and, despite his youth, is clear regarding what you want. It is an example”.
In that period you were with the runner, what did you learn from him?
“Many things, including listening to the patient’s wishes. He told me that he was ready to do rollers, to go out for a run, that his back didn’t hurt… In that sense, doctors tend to be dominant in managing patients because we are taking care of his health . In addition, his ability to be a leader caught my attention, beyond the pain he was feeling. He always showed positivism beyond moments of despair and anguish, he said: ‘let’s go forward’”.
You were a trend when you said that Egan will be able to compete as of May 24, isn’t this very premature following the injuries he had?
“What a good question! You have to be clear. That phrase was taken from a conversation we had at the Academy of Medicine and at that moment, full of euphoria, we were communicating that the results of those tests were positive and that he was discharged so that from now on they would take charge of him his doctors and the people of his team, who in the end are the ones who make the decision that he can run”.
Was what was being discussed taken out of context?
“The phrase was a little out of context. Obviously I am not a spokesperson for Ineos or the clinic where I work, nor do I have to express issues regarding the official or functional prognosis of my patient. What happens is that he had already discussed it with his team doctor, that since May 24 Egan, and following the evaluations in Europe, he will surely be able to get on the pedals to train with a view to returning to competition. When and where will you be able to compete once more? Only God knows that and at the time, according to evolution, the people who make the decisions in his team. We are facing injuries that heal between three and six months and so far it is gone for the third month. Like everything in life, you have to be calm and measured.
