Religion helped Pope Francis rise from his seat in the audience on Wednesday at the Vatican. photo: AFP
“Right now” doctors ruled out the operation, but Pope Francis had already begun a full rest of ten days, with orthopedic therapy that cures it: a “solid entry” to deflate the ligaments, causing increasingly intense and unbearable pain.
Your activities is suspended. Week 8 not lead the ceremony of ordination of the priests of the new priests of the diocese of Rome, of which Francis was its bishop.
For more than a year, his knee pain intensified, to the point that movements became difficult, due to his poor ambulation and posture.
According to orthopedic specialist Francesco Bove, who has performed more than two thousand interventions of this type, the osteoarthritis that Papa suffers from comes from an operation he underwent in 1994 in Buenos Aires, when he was installed. a prosthesis in the right hip.
Dad’s face hurts as he stands in his seat in the general audience every Wednesday. Photo: AFP
“The prosthesis, with an unbalanced load on the joint, is partly responsible, but also the practice of the priests and nuns of pray on your knees it may have exacerbated his case, ”explains Bove, who is considered a luminary, president of the Italian Foundation for the Fight against Arthrosis and Osteoporosis.
Another note specialist, Pier Paolo Mariani, professor at the University Institute of Motor Sciences in Rome, told the “Corriere della Sera” that “among the several possibilities related to knee malfunction, may result from the wear of the prosthesis ”.
But the newspaper featured that a few days ago the hypothesis was ruled out by a CAT (tomography) in which the pontiff was subjected.
Professor Bove, who suggested an anti-inflammatory treatment for the Pope, is now more pessimistic: “if more time had passed without improvement. may be necessary surgical intervention ”to restore joint function.
“If (the pope) spends more time without improvement, surgery may be needed,” the doctors said. Photo: AFP
The orthopedic specialist points out that knee joint wear is “formed by secondary inflammatory phenomena”. Facing functional impotence “The knee becomes inflamed and swollen.”
The phenomena are often reversible. But Bove stressed that “because it’s about progressive pathology, the patient slips into more frequent immobility. “
the agenda is loaded
He added “the joint becomes deformed and in these cases it is when surgical intervention is resorted to, with replacement of the articular surface with artificial prosthetics”.
The doctors warned the Pope that he should follow full rest with faith and if he did not, it would be difficult for him to perform. the agenda of international efforts.
Although these trips have not been confirmed, diplomacy and the Vatican organizational machine have been working for several months. trips planned from June in Lebanon, Jerusalem, South Sudan, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Canada and Kazakhstan.
Normal activities in the apostolic see also entered into a crisis due to the aggravation of the disease which forced the Pope to sit still in many of the ceremonies and collective audiences, as he gathered on Saturday with the Slovak bishops.
“This leg doesn’t work”
Francisco they cannot be accepted standing. He apologized. “I have a problem. This leg isn’t working, the doctor told me I shouldn’t walk. I like him but I have to follow him. This is why I have to ask you to make the sacrifice of walking. climb the stairs and greet you here, sitting down. It’s a shame but I offer it to your country “.
That was his last public ceremony. On Sunday he appeared in the window of his study at the Apostolic Palace and spoke to the people gathered at St. Peter’s Square.
Vatican correspondent
ap
Source: Clarin
