Professor Andrea Grasso, orthopedic and trauma surgeon, explains what’s behind Dybala’s injury. And he raises more than one doubt about the choice of surgery
Infortunio Dybala, l’ortopedico: “Ho un dubbio sull’operazione” (Foto: LaPresse) – serieanews.com
The discussions around Paulo Dybala these days are the kind that make noise. Roma’s latest official statement confirmed what everyone feared: semitendinosus tendon injury and surgery on the way.
A choice that, in the minds of fans, immediately ignited alarm: how long will Dybala be out? Will he be back in time for the season finale? And most importantly, will he return?
But there is another aspect that few have raised so far. Was the operation really the right path? Or could an alternative route have been tried?
To understand this, we heard from Professor Andrea Grasso, a surgeon specializing in orthopedics and traumatology and a professor at the Biomedical Campus in Rome. Not only a luminary in the field, but also a great soccer fan. And his answers do not leave one indifferent.
Professor, what injury was Dybala’s injury?
“We have to figure out at what height was the tendon injury, whether proximal (so at pelvic level) or distal (so at knee-tibia level). To read the Roma statement it should be the myotendinous junction, so the point where the muscle becomes tendon, and on the other hand he was touching himself right near the knee, at least judging from the images seen on television.”
Roma and the player have opted for the operation. Does this seem like the most correct choice?
“I have no data to express a reliable opinion on the specific case. We can talk about the approach to muscle or musculotendinous injuries, which are certainly worse. We have talked about a grade 2 injury, which involves stretching of the muscle with only a partial fiber tear, as opposed to a grade 3 in which there is a complete rupture with disruption of the muscle fibers. In these cases, in grade 2, surgery is hardly considered; there is a tendency to opt more for conservative therapy. The case of grade 3 injuries, however, is different, where surgery might be indicated.
“Di solito non è un infortunio che prevede un’operazione”
So, usually, for an injury like the one that happened to Dybala, an operation is not resorted to. Prof. Grasso’s opinion on the subject is enlightening and leaves more than one doubt about the choice made by the player and Roma.
Di solito quello di Dybala non è un infortunio che prevede un’operazione (LaPresse) – serieanews.com
“I repeat that I don’t know the specific case, but certainly grade 2 muscle injuries are generally treated without surgery,” explains the orthopedist. “For example, I remember an episode related to Francesco Totti several years ago: there the injury was proximal to the ischial insertion on the pelvis, yet they still chose to carry out only conservative therapy without going through surgery. Clearly – I repeat – there is always to examine the examinations and the individual case, which I did not do. Then it also depends on the specialist who gives you the advice.”
You, therefore, would not have had him operated on?
“If the injury is a type II injury, as reported in the newspapers, I probably would have advised against surgery.”
Conservative therapy would have provided for a shorter recovery, right?
“Yes, if there is no operation the recovery time is usually estimated at 4-6 weeks, then of course it also depends on how the player feels once he is back on the field, whether he wants to risk it or not. Let’s say we would be coming towards the end of the season, on the penultimate or the third last day of the season.”
Are these situations also very dependent on the physical perception of the player?
“Without a doubt, it is often the choice of the footballer that makes the difference based on his personal perception. There are several cases of footballers who, even in the case of milder injuries, independently decide to stop, sometimes even in the absence of medical evidence. There are soccer players who have more fear of worsening the situation or a different perception and resistance to pain, others somewhat less so. In some cases, precisely, even though they are minor or even minor injuries, there is a tendency to freeze even psychologically and forfeit.”
Do you think it was the same for Dybala?
“I do not know the player personally nor am I a member of Roma’s medical staff, so I cannot answer in that sense.”
You are a fan and know soccer well. In your opinion, should Roma retain Dybala again next year?
“In my opinion it depends on the economic availability. Dybala is a superior footballer and his presence always makes a difference, but it goes without saying that right now having a footballer with this tendency to injuries with a salary like that is a luxury that only those who have the right economic resources can afford.
👀#Dybala today in London: when and where he will operate. Beltran’s brother’s message https://t.co/UVD7iixe0s
– Corriere dello Sport (@CorSport) March 24, 2025
Roma will also have to evaluate on the basis of this aspect whether it is the case to keep a champion like Dybala, with all the risks involved. Certainly if his permanence does not go to limit the economic capacity of the club to make new important purchases, I think that having a footballer who makes a difference even for only half of the games is a great thing.”
This article Dybala injury, orthopedist: ‘I have a doubt about the operation’ – EXCLUSIVE appeared in its original version first on SerieANews.
