Eddy Merckx Receives Final Prosthesis Following Hip Fracture Complications
Antwerp, Belgium – Cycling legend Eddy merckx has successfully undergone a fourth operation in six months at a hospital in Antwerp, receiving a final prosthesis to address complications stemming from a hip fracture sustained in December 2023. The procedure, completed friday evening, marks a crucial step in the 80-year-old’s recovery.
Merckx, widely regarded as the greatest cyclist of all time, initially broke his hip in a fall last year. Subsequent surgeries revealed issues with the initial titanium prosthesis, leading to further hospitalizations in March and July due to poor bone integration, skin bacteria, and fluid retention. This latest operation aims to resolve those issues definitively, offering the “Cannibal” a lasting solution and the prospect of resuming his convalescence.
According to reports from HLN, the recent surgery was necessary after the frist prosthesis failed to properly adhere to the bone. The complications that followed necessitated ongoing medical intervention and extended Merckx’s recovery period.
Merckx is expected to remain in the hospital for several days to begin his recovery. This final procedure is anticipated to be the last in a series of interventions required to repair the damage from his fall and restore his mobility.
