Overview
- In the Serie B match on April 18, Klinsmann collided with Filippo Ranocchia and suffered a fracture of the first cervical vertebra that risked permanent paralysis.
- Surgeons in Heidelberg led by Dr. Hemmer stabilized the injury with four screws during an early operation that medical teams say averted a worse outcome.
- Five months after the collision he has begun supervised strength work in the gym but is not yet cleared to jog and remains under monitored rehabilitation.
- Klinsmann plans a follow-up surgery to remove the fixation hardware in roughly four months and aims to rejoin team training at the end of the season with a view to playing next year.
- The injury has left a lasting emotional impact on Klinsmann and his family, Ranocchia visited in hospital and Klinsmann has stressed that the collision was an accident while warning that the neck will carry higher risk from future trauma.