Tchouameni injury: how long will he be out for and what games will he miss?

Aurélien Tchouameni is facing a while on the sidelines after picking up a foot injury during Saturday’s 1-2 win at Barcelona. The Real Madrid midfielder started and finished the game but tests conducted today detected a bone fracture affecting his left foot.

A medical report from the club’s medical department gave more details: “After the tests carried out on Aurélien Tchouameni by the Real Madrid Medical Services, the player has been diagnosed with an incomplete stress fracture in the second metatarsal of the left foot. His progress is to be monitored”.

Stress fracture injuries are very common both in normal life and particularly in sports. They are generally caused by overload, fatigue, overexertion and stress. They normally occur in high-intensity military maneuvers, athletes, hiking enthusiasts... due to constant and repetitive impacts of the foot on the ground.

The fundamental symptom is pain initially and if not much attention is paid, a diffuse inflammation appears especially on the dorsum of the forefoot, which ends up causing functional impotence. The diagnosis is sometimes not easy, since radiology imaging usually cannot detect such traumas. Magnetic resonance scans can determine a large area of bone edema. It is a serious condition because if player continues to train intensely, they can run the risk of a complete fracture, which would then require surgical treatment.

The treatment of stress fracture injuries is always conservative and focused on resting the injured foot. That is a situation which many players find hard to accept, as they are unable to train while they are recovering.

The recovery time is usually six to eight weeks, and involves avoiding impact of the foot on the ground and physiotherapy, until the foot heals itself. Preventive measures include studying gait and being very careful with footwear that is not too tight and does not provide the necessary cushioning.

Which games will Tchouameni miss?

If his rehabilitation goes well, the French midfielder could be back to full training by mid-December - which means he is likely to miss the rest of the Champions League group stage and the Second Round of the Copa del Rey. If his recovery takes longer than expected, he might not return until after Christmas.