18 months after his accident during testing for the 2012 24 Hours of Le Mans, Guillaume Moreau returned to Angers Hospital Centre for another operation.
The latest trip was so that Doctor Lucas and his medical could remove the material put in place to maintain his vertebrae during the consolidation phase, concluding the stage of healing the bone tissue. The operation was successful and Moreau now needs to rest so healing can begin, and can start physical training in January.
Concerning the damage to the spinal cord, the growth of the nerve endings could take up to two years, leaving it impossible to draw a definite conclusion.
“The evolution of the consolidation of the fracture has been very positive,” said Doctor Olivier Lucas of Angers University Hospital Centre. “The control scan of the first operation carried out a year ago told us that we could remove the material, which held the fractured vertebra in place, in complete safety. The aftermath of the operation was very favourable despite considerable pain linked to Guillaume’s muscle structure, the result of his stature as a top-class sportsman. The X-rays taken after the operation show that the removal of the material didn’t cause any displacement, so Guillaume will be able to resume his top-level training programme after a check-up that I’ll carry out in six weeks. I’m going to continue following him and the evolution of his recovery concerning his nerves.”
During his time away from the circuit, the Frenchman has devoted his time to deal with the insurance and protection of motor sport setting up the company Racecare along with his insurer, Franck Bayle. Moreau has split his time between working on his comeback to racing with OAK Racing and Racecare.
“I’m relieved taking into account the seriousness of my accident to have made a great recovery in terms of bone damage,” explained Moreau. “Concerning the nerve endings I know there’s still a long way to go until they start to grow again, but the final operation is a big weight off my mind. A page has been turned. I’d like to thank the Angers CDU, all the staff in Doctor Lucas’s service, the physiotherapists and the nurses for their precious help, and in particular the doctor himself. I hope I’ll be back to see them as little as possible!”
