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Bono's "High Energy" Bike Accident Caused Severe Injuries

Jen Carlson

Published Nov 19, 2014

Modified Nov 19, 2014

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Jen Carlson

Published Nov 19, 2014

Modified Nov 19, 2014

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On Sunday, U2 frontman Bono was injured while riding his bike in Central Park, and initial reports stated that he had injured his arm. Now it's been revealed that his injuries were a bit more severe and extensive, and he had to undergo a number of surgeries following the "high energy" accident.

Dean Lorich, the New York Presbyterian orthopedic trauma surgeon who treated the 54-year-old, told Rolling Stone that he'll make a full recovery, but will “require intensive and progressive therapy" to do so. He added that Bono "was taken emergently to the operating room... where the elbow was washed out and debrided, a nerve trapped in the break was moved and the bone was repaired with three metal plates and 18 screws."

Here's the full statement from Lorich:

On November 16th, Bono was involved in a high energy bicycle accident when he attempted to avoid another rider. Presented as a Trauma Alert to New York Presbyterian/Weill Cornell’s Emergency Department, his Trauma Work-up at that time included multiple X-rays and CAT scans showed injuries that include:

Left facial fracture involving the orbit of his eye.

Left scapula (shoulder blade) fracture in three separate pieces.

Left compound distal humerus fracture where the bone of his humerus was driven though his skin and the bone was in six different pieces. He was taken emergently to the operating room for a five-hour surgery Sunday evening where the elbow was washed out and debrided, a nerve trapped in the break was moved and the bone was repaired with three metal plates and 18 screws.

One day later, he had surgery to his left hand to repair a fracture of his 5th metacarpal.

He will require intensive and progressive therapy, however a full recovery is expected.

The NYPD has been cracking down on cyclists in Central Park, and have reportedly issued 810 summonses (as of October 19th) for everything from failure to yield to running red lights to wearing headphones while riding. It's unclear how Bono's accident occurred, but when the band announced they were postponing their weeklong residency on The Tonight Show following the injury, they referred to the incident as a "spill."

Tagged

bike

bono

central park

cycling

Jen Carlson

Jen Carlson is a former WNYC and Gothamist editor.

Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations

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