Minotaur is operated on and could return in June 2012

Rodrigo Minotauro undergoes surgery, has 16 screws inserted in his arm and can return in June

After consulting a doctor in Los Angeles and deciding not to undergo surgical treatment, Rodrigo Minotauro went back and operated on his right arm, which was fractured during the fight against Frank mir at UFC 140, held on the 10th, in Toronto. On Saturday afternoon (17), the Brazilian black belt was admitted to the Steadman clinic, in the city of Vail, in the United States, where the entire procedure was carried out.

See photos of the fracture Rodrigo Minotauro
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The team responsible for the procedure was led by doctor Thomas Hackett, who released a note this Sunday to explain what was done to the former UFC champion's arm.

According to Hackett, 16 screws were placed in Minotauro's arm and the radial nerve also received specific treatment, as the Brazilian was losing some movement in his hand. The doctor believes that Minotauro can fight until June 2012.

Check out the note from Thomas Hackett, Minotauro's doctor, in full:

“Mr. Nogueira suffered a complex fracture in his right humerus, a bone in his arm. The fracture began in the central part of the bone and extended to the elbow region. Unfortunately, the radial nerve (one of the main nerves that gives the hands a sense of power) was injured by this event. The nerve was located in the area of ​​the fracture and the bone was compressing the nerve. Before surgery, he had very little strength in his hand and no strength in his thumb.”

“The surgery involved an incision on the back of his arm. The nerve was removed from the fracture site and treated. The fracture was fixed with a plate and 16 screws and now less than 12 hours after surgery, function is returning to his hand and the bone has been fixed. We plan to start a series of movement exercises today and will begin strengthening over the next month. If all goes well, he will begin full training in the next few months and should be 100% ready for the fight in six months or less. We anticipate a full and complete recovery.”