Swedes to undergo surgery in coming days

Axel Baeck at the 2014 Schladming Night Slalom. GEPA/Wolfgang Grebien

The feared news was confirmed Friday morning for Swedish technical skier Magdalena “Monne” Fjaellstroem who tore the ACL in her left knee during training earlier in the week. Instead of skiing this winter, it will be surgery and rehabilitation for the next six months.

During an MRI in Umeå, Sweden, national team physician Per Liljeholm quickly saw that the ligament was damaged. A torn ACL requires rehabilitation for six months, but Fjaellstroem must first undergo surgery.

“We will hold off on the surgery until next Monday. We want the swelling to go down and then I would also like the mobility in her knee to get better,” said Liljeholm. “If we encounter no complications, the process is usually to get started with strength training after 2.5 months and then she will be back on skis by the end of this season.” Both Fjaellstroem’s surgery and rehabilitation will take place in Umeå.

Other tough news hit the Swedish national team after it was confirmed that Axel Baeck will require surgery for an injury he suffered on his left hand during slalom training Wednesday. He will wear a cast for 4-6 weeks following the procedure and then will have to wear special protection over the hand for training and racing.

On Thursday, Baeck’s left hand was examined at Sophia Hospital in Stockholm. The investigation revealed that surgery is required for proper healing, and Baeck will have the procedure performed either Friday or Monday.

“There’s a tendon which enables you to have movement in the hand if you only cast it. There is a piece dislocated, therefore, we will go in and attach the piece of bone with pins,” said Liljeholm.

The surgery is considered minor, so there is the possibility that Baeck may be able to return to training before the cast is removed.

“Axel asked about the possibility [of training sooner], but he needs to discuss it with the staff performing the surgery. Much depends on how stable it becomes. We will consider it when the surgery is performed,” remarked Liljeholm. “Next, we’ll try out a [protection] that allows him to run at full speed, roughly similar to the one Byggmark had when he injured his thumb.”

Release courtesy of SSF