2023 World Cup – French XV / “If it breaks…”: Antoine Dupont, possibility and risks of a return

Fortunately, the news that followed seemed more reassuring. Suffering from a maxillo-zygomatic fracture, the brilliant scrum half was operated on on September 22, at the Purpan University Hospital. The Toulouse resident then spent a few days off with his family in his Pyrenean village of Castelnau-Magnoac. He should reunite with his teammates shortly and even, if he gets the green light from the medical staff, resume training on Sunday. As for his return to competition, it could take place during the Habs’ potential quarter-final, the weekend of October 14-15. But is this seriously possible?

“There are rules in surgery, but no absolute truth, immediately asks Doctor François Morel, maxillofacial surgeon in Rouen. After arbitration, it is a matter of choosing the best option.” In this case, it was decided to operate on Dupont quickly and to have him undergo osteosynthesis, two titanium plates having been placed on his face. “If I had had to deal with this case, this is the option I would have chosen, continues the practitioner. This is what allows us to have effective stability in the shortest time frame.”

“We place titanium plates to fix the bone in its initial position, since it was fractured and displaced. The idea is to maintain the bone pieces while consolidation takes place”, explains Doctor Jérôme Bourlet, also a maxillofacial surgeon, whose practice is in Lyon. Generally, four weeks are required to achieve bone stability. Consolidation is considered sufficiently advanced after six weeks. From there, it is possible to resume almost normal activity.

In other words, strict compliance with the consolidation deadline would force Dupont to give up on the end of the World Cup. However, imagining him returning to action in a possible quarter-final – against South Africa, if the hierarchy of groups A and B remains unchanged -, just three weeks after his operation, is not absolutely inconceivable. “We must clearly differentiate between what we recommend in everyday life and the current situation, which is very particular because it concerns a high-level athlete, in the middle of an international competition.”recontextualizes Dr. Morel.

“In a football World Cup, with a final scheduled in a week, I think he wouldn’t play, even with all the good will there is. But three or four weeks later, it’s different”specifies the specialist, who judges that the “risk taken is measured”. “There, like that, I would tell him not to play again”, whispers Dr. Bourlet who, like his colleague, has not had Antoine Dupont’s medical file in front of him and therefore wishes to maintain rigorous caution. Before adding: “Now it’s up to him whether he wants to take the risk.”

Exactly, what should we fear for the usual French No. 9 in the event of another impact on the same area of ​​the face? “The risk is twofold, underlines Jérôme Bourlet. Already, there may be a redisplacement of the fracture. Then the bone could break comminutedly (in small fragments, editor’s note) on titanium plates. Which would lead to further complications.” “If it holds, so much the better. But if it breaks, he’s not going to have a good time, agrees François Morel. An overfracture on equipment is not something we appreciate. And then he can do whatever he wants, he won’t come back after three weeks.”