Two emergency surgeries totaling five hours following a 1-2 hour delay. "It would have been dangerous if it had been delayed by another 1-2 hours." Long-term absence possible
was decided on the 6th that sumo wrestler Wakatakakage (31), a sekiwake, will be absent from the Nagoya Grand Sumo Tournament (starting on the 12th at IG Arena). This was announced by his stablemaster, Arashio Oyakata (former Makuuchi wrestler Sokokurai). After winning his second championship in the last tournament, he was expected to solidify his position for promotion to Ozeki in this tournament, but he injured his left thigh during practice on the 1st. He was diagnosed with "compartment syndrome," which causes nerve paralysis due to circulatory problems, and because there was a risk of necrosis, he underwent emergency surgery and is currently still hospitalized. There is no prospect of his return, and there is a possibility of a long-term absence.
The reigning champion has been struck by misfortune. His stablemaster, Arashio Oyakata, spoke to reporters after morning practice at the stable's lodgings in Nakagawa Ward, Nagoya City, and explained the current situation of Wakatakakage, who had not been seen at practice since the 2nd. Wakatakakage is hospitalized after undergoing surgery on his left thigh and said, "Nagoya is out of the question. It's a serious injury, so we want him to focus on treatment first," and it has been decided that he will be absent from the Nagoya tournament.
The problem occurred on the 1st when he was training at the Sadogatake stable. He complained of discomfort in his left leg and cut short his practice session. Initially, he was able to walk on his own, but around noon when he returned to the stable, he complained of pain in the bath, and around 3 p.m., he experienced severe pain and vomiting, so he was taken to a hospital in the city by ambulance. He was diagnosed with "femoral compartment syndrome" and underwent emergency surgery immediately.
After a surgery lasting approximately three hours, bleeding became uncontrollable in the middle of the night, requiring a second surgery in the early morning, which lasted another two hours. He remained in the intensive care unit until the 4th, but has now been moved to a general ward and his condition is stable. The doctors' quick decision proved successful, but the left thigh that was operated on remains open, and he is scheduled to undergo several more suturing surgeries from the 7th onward. There is currently no prospect of him being discharged.
Compartment syndrome is a circulatory disorder caused by trauma or other factors that leads to nerve paralysis. According to stablemaster Arashio, it is a rare condition, occurring in only one or two cases per 100,000 people. The affected area is mostly the calf, with the thigh being unusual. If treatment is delayed, there is a risk of muscle and tissue necrosis and functional impairment, and he testified that "(the doctor) told me it was a race against time. If the surgery had been delayed by another one or two hours, it would have been dangerous."
Wakatakakage won the playoff against Ozeki Kirishima with a 12-3 record in the last tournament as a Komusubi, securing his second Emperor's Cup in 25 tournaments. The benchmark for promotion to Ozeki is "33 wins in the last three tournaments in the Sanyaku ranks." In this tournament, where he returned to Sekiwake after five tournaments, he was aiming to solidify his footing towards his long-awaited promotion to Ozeki, but not only has he returned to square one, there is now a possibility that he may face a long-term absence.
Cases of this condition are limited in the sumo world, and a difficult road to recovery is expected. While this could be considered a crisis for his sumo career, he reportedly told his stablemaster over the phone, "I will focus on treatment and do my best," expressing his determination to make a comeback. This indomitable 31-year-old, who fell from the rank of Sekiwake to the lower divisions due to a serious right knee injury, has risen again. Can he overcome this ordeal once more and perform a miracle? (Naofumi Hayashi)