22 Nov 2008

Prumm operation succesful

1:24 pm on 22 November 2008

The New Zealand motocross rider Katherine Prumm is recovering after a seven-hour operation to repair three broken vertebrae.

The 20-year-old damaged her T6, T9 and T12 in a practice crash last week and the subsequent surgical procedure involved reparation through her back and extensive work to fix the tendons surrounding the troublesome and most seriously affected area around the T12.

Prumm, a multiple World Cup winner, has full feeling and use of her legs and can look ahead to recovery after being fitted with a custom-made brace for her torso that must be worn for three months.

After the shock of the accident and the aftermath - in which she briefly lost sensation in her limbs - the post-op news and perspective at last provided some much needed hope for the racer.

She says somebody was watching over her, she was really lucky not to be paralysed and she's now looking forward to getting fit and strong and to being back where she wants to be.