While his colleague, Anne-Sophie Lapix, had already suffered a bad fall on the ski slopes at the start of the year, Thomas Sotto was admitted to the emergency room after falling while cycling. Dr. Gérald Kierzek, emergency physician and medical director of True Medical, analyzes the risks associated with such a fall.
The presenter injured his left leg
The events took place last Saturday. During a bike ride, the 52-year-old journalist allegedly hit a pothole and “fractured tibia and fibula“, according to our colleagues at Paris Match. And it was on his Instagram account, from his hospital room, that Thomas Sotto announced the bad news, ironically about his absence.
“Sorry, Coach, you’re not going to be able to put me on the scoresheet against OM this afternoon… You warned me: potholes are for chickens, not for bikes“, said the Paris FC fan, showing his injured left leg, covered in bandages.
Despite this revelation tinged with humor, the host’s injury is far from trivial: it forces him to take his foot off the gas for several weeks. From this Monday, Olivier Boy will take over as journalist to present the show.
A heavy fall… and a risk of multiple injuries
According to Dr Gérald Kierzek, the consequences of falls while cycling should not be underestimated. “They can cause a variety of injuries, ranging from minor bruising to severe trauma and even death. Yes, o“You can die from a fall while cycling.” he recalls. In detail, several types of injuries can occur:
- Bone fractures : “The most common ones affect the wrist, collarbone, ribs or legs (tibia/fibula), often due to instinctive support during a fall or a direct impact from the bike or external surface (kerb, etc.).” ;
- Head trauma: “Concussions, hemorrhages or skull fractures represent a major risk without a helmet; they are responsible for many hospitalizations, even at low speed” ;
- Abdominal or thoracic injuries : “Ruptures of the spleen, liver or lungs in the event of a fall on the handlebars; rarer but potentially fatal.”
Be careful, certain factors are likely to aggravate these injuries:
- The speed at which you ride and the surface of the trail you take : “On wet roads, gravel roads or potholes, impacts are amplified, increasing the risk of internal or spinal injuries.” ;
- Delayed injuries: “Back, pelvic or knee pain may appear several days after the fall ;
- Solo falls vs. collision: “70% of accidents occur without a third party and are linked to a simple loss of balance.
How can these injuries ultimately be prevented?
While Thomas Sotto will have to be bedridden for “6 to 8 weeks” according to the estimates of Dr. Gérald Kierzek, some good cycling practices should prevent him from injuring himself again.
“When cycling, you must always wear a well-fitted helmet (compulsory before 12 years of age and essential at all ages), check your bike before each departure (brakes, tires, chain) while anticipating obstacles such as potholes or rails, and adapt your speed as well as your visibility on the road (lights, vest), maintaining a stable position and avoiding any overload or distraction,” concludes the medical director of True Medical.
Thomas Sotto’s accident is nothing exceptional, and that is precisely what makes it so telling. Every year, thousands of cyclists fall alone, at low or medium speed, convinced that they will escape with a few bruises. However, as Dr Gérald Kierzek reminds us, falls are never harmless for the body. When cycling, caution is not an excess, but a vital protection.