The surgeon has told handball club KIF Kolding that the operation facing the Danish club’s line player Mads Kragh Thomsen has only been performed twice before in all of Europe. That detail was relayed by Danish broadcaster TV 2 Sport, citing the club’s physical trainer Mathias Arntzen.
What makes the injury so rare is the mechanism. A small, isolated strand of the thigh muscle tore clean through while the rest of the muscle stayed intact, and the ruptured piece sits hidden beneath the surface of the muscle, which is why the first examinations understated how serious it was.
Arntzen said it happened during a routine counter-attacking drill in training, when Kragh Thomsen effectively stuck to the floor as he changed direction, isolating the small section of muscle that gave way.
‘A very unusual injury’
Arntzen called the setback as unlucky as it is uncommon.
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“It is a very unusual injury that Mads has been extremely unfortunate to pick up,” he said in a club statement carried by handball site Hbold. “The examinations have unfortunately shown that the injury is more extensive than we first expected, and that means a longer period of rehabilitation now lies ahead. It is of course very frustrating for both Mads and the whole team.”
After the operation Kragh Thomsen will go through an initial phase in which he can neither bend nor extend his leg before rehabilitation proper can begin.
The line player admitted the diagnosis had hit him hard.
“It is incredibly tough to accept that this injury is keeping me out for a longer period of time,” he said. “That was certainly not the answer I was hoping for. I am going to miss the court and the atmosphere at the matches enormously. My full focus is now on the rehab so I can come back strong.”
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A difficult run in the league
The timing is unforgiving. KIF Kolding are deep in a difficult run in the Betoro Herreligaen, Denmark’s top handball flight, and were beaten 39-30 away at league leaders GOG on Sunday in front of 3,543 spectators at Arena Svendborg.
The club had hoped Kragh Thomsen might be back in time for Thursday’s derby against Fredericia HK, regional daily JydskeVestkysten reported, but the examinations ruled that out. Surgery comes first, followed by the no-bending, no-stretching phase before any rehabilitation can begin.
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