José Martínez injury: recovery time for Corinthians midfielder | OneFootball

Last week, Corinthians added another member to its medical department. José Martínez suffered a trauma to his left hand during last Tuesday's training session. After imaging tests, the midfielder was diagnosed with a fracture in the fourth metacarpal of his left hand.

Then, last Wednesday, he underwent successful surgery at Hospital Sírio Libanês, in São Paulo. As a result, Corinthians, which is already without Memphis, Yuri Alberto, and Carrillo, lost another of its starters.

Gazeta Esportiva thus contacted Dr. Gabriel Leão, a sports physiotherapist and partner at Sonafe (National Society of Sports Physiotherapy and Physical Activity), to understand more details about Martínez's injury and a possible recovery timeframe for the Venezuelan.

The physiotherapist explained that the fourth metacarpal is the bone in the hand that connects the wrist to the ring finger. It is part of a set of bones that support the palm and serve as a lever for finger movements, being an important region for grip strength and hand stability.

"This type of fracture usually occurs from direct trauma (such as a direct impact on the hand) or indirect trauma, when the athlete falls and supports the body's weight on the extended hand. Although not as common as lower limb injuries, football presents frequent contact and fall situations that can cause this type of fracture," detailed Dr. Gabriel Leão.

There are various types of injuries that an athlete can suffer, just as there are various treatments to which the player can be subjected. In Martínez's case, conservative treatment was ruled out and surgical intervention was necessary to correct the metacarpal problem.

"Conservative treatment is indicated when there is no deviation. In this case, a splint or cast can be used to immobilize the hand for a few weeks. In surgical treatment, internal fixation is performed with pins, screws, or plates," stated the Sonafe partner.

"Surgery is indicated when there is deviation of the bone fragments, bone exposure, fracture instability, or when the bone's position can compromise hand function. In the case of professional athletes, another determining factor is the need for a quicker and safer return to sport, as surgical fixation provides a more stable consolidation and allows for an early resumption of training," he continued.

Possible return timeframe for Martínez

In an official statement, as usual, Corinthians did not provide a possible return timeframe for José Martínez. The Venezuelan was discharged last Thursday and will begin recovery with physiotherapy at CT Dr. Joaquim Grava this Sunday. The process is important in treatment, as mentioned above.

According to Dr. Gabriel Leão, as it is a hand injury, the estimated timeframe for Martínez to potentially return to training should be four to five weeks. The player's full recovery, on the other hand, may take up to eight weeks - that is, about two months.

"Bone consolidation takes, on average, six to eight weeks. However, in high-performance athletes, the return can happen earlier, as football does not require intense use of the hand in technical gestures. In many cases, the player can train with protection around four to five weeks, while full return usually occurs around eight weeks," explained the physiotherapist in an interview with Gazeta Esportiva.

According to the professional, physiotherapy rehabilitation should include exercises aimed at restoring joint mobility, preventing stiffness, and recovering the grip strength of the hand. During this period, it is also important to maintain Martínez's physical conditioning, something that Corinthians has assured will happen. The midfielder will do specific work with the club's physical preparation to maintain good form.

"Safe return depends on two factors: bone consolidation and recovery of hand function. In theory, the athlete could return to field training, with some type of protection and care with falls, around four weeks, provided that the surgical fixation has provided good stability. Unrestricted return, with a low risk of recurrence or complications, is usually expected between six to eight weeks," concluded Gabriel Leão.

In addition to José Martínez, four other Corinthians players are also in the medical department: Yuri Alberto (inguinal hernia surgery), Carrillo (left ankle surgery), Memphis (grade 2 muscle injury in the right thigh), and Hugo (physical transition).

The five athletes, therefore, will definitely be out for this weekend's match against Vasco. The game kicks off this Sunday, starting at 4 pm (Brasília time), at São Januário, for the 21st round of the Brazilian Championship.

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