Bono needs 8 weeks recovery, North American leg postponed

U2.com has announced that Bono has been discharged from LMU University Hospital in Munich. The physician, Dr Muller Wohlfart confirmed that Bono underwent emergency surgery on Friday after suffering severe compression of the sciatic nerve. To ensure a full recovery, he needs to start a rehabilitation program to recuperate for at least eight weeks. According to the doctors this is the minimum time.

Wohlfahrt: “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.”

Professor Tonn explained Bono had been in severe pain and was suffering partial paralysis in the lower leg:

“The ligament surrounding the disc had an 8mm 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.”

Paul McGuinness confirmed that the eight week recovery period sadly means the definite postponement of all 16 shows on the North American leg of U2′s 360 tour from Salt Lake City on June 3rd, through to New Jersey’s Meadowlands Stadium on July 19th.

McGuinness: “‘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. 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.”

Live Nation is rescheduling the 16 American dates for 2011. U2′s planned show at Britain’s Glastonbury festival has also been cancelled. According to their website Bono is ‘heartbroken’:

Bono: “We really wanted to be there to do something really special – we even wrote a song especially for the Festival.”

On the brighter side, Dr Muller Wohlfahrt ensured Bono is in good care:

“We are treating Bono as we would treat any of our athletes”.