U2’s relief after Bono’s emergency surgery prevents paralysis

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Bono to make full recovery from paralysis

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The extent of Bono’s injuries has been revealed by expert surgeons in Munich. Having already postponed U2’s 360 Tour the band and Bono’s doctors have described the “sudden onset disease” which caused the rock star temporary partial paralysis.

According to spinal surgeon Professor Tonn his condition was brought on while the singer was training for his upcoming tour.

Dr. Muller Wohlfahrt said "Bono suffered severe compression of the sciatic nerve. On review of his MRI scan, I realized there was a serious tear in the ligament and a herniated disc, and that conservative treatment would not suffice. I recommended Bono have emergency spine surgery with Professor Tonn at Munich's LMU University Hospital on Friday."

When Bono was admitted to hospital spinal surgeon Prof Tonn realized that Bono already had paralysis in his lower leg. “The ligament surrounding the disc had an eight millimeter tear and during surgery we discovered fragments of the disc had traveled into the spinal canal."

"This surgery was the only course of treatment for full recovery and to avoid further paralysis.  Bono is now much better, with complete recovery of his motor deficit. The prognosis is excellent, but to obtain a sustainable result, he must now enter a period of rehabilitation."

U2’s manager, Paul McGuinness, much relieved by the news spoke while still at the Munich hospital. He said that what Bono is most concerned with is that he has had to postpone his tour until 2011.

"Our biggest and I believe best tour has been interrupted and we're all devastated.  For a performer who lives to be on stage, this is more than a blow,” said McGuinness.  “He feels robbed of the chance to do what he does best and feels like he has badly let down the band and their audience, which is of course nonsense.

“His concerns about more than a million ticket buyers whose plans have been turned upside down, we all share, but the most important thing right now is that Bono make a full recovery.  We're working as fast as we can with Live Nation to reschedule these dates."

On Tuesday U2 were forced to cancel their headline slot for the, 40th anniversary of, Britain’s Glastonbury Festival along with several United States tour dates. Bono has been told that he must rest for at least two months after this operation to make a full recovery.

In a statement issued on the bands website Bono was said to be “heartbroken” about missing this chance to play the headline slot at Glastonbury.

He said “We really wanted to be there to do something really special – we even wrote a song especially for the festival."

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