CUH surgeon puts ‘miracle man’ on road to recovery

A superbike champion is back under the care of the surgeon who saved both his leg and his career, after a second horror crash has again put his racing future in jeopardy.

Ian Hutchinson first met Cambridge University Hospitals’ Matija Krkovic when a 2010 crash threatened to halt the then eight-time Isle of Man TT champion’s career.

The damage cut off the blood to the team Tyco BMW racer’s lower left leg, meaning amputation looked likely.

However, not only did Mr Krkovic save the leg but he performed a total of 30 painstaking procedures enabling Mr Hutchinson to go on and win a further eight TT races.

Mr Hutchinson, dubbed the ‘miracle man’ following his incredible sporting comeback, said: “When I did my leg again there was only one man I wanted to see, Mr Krkovic.

“He did amazing work first time round. He didn’t just say ‘go home and rest’ he really took the time to understand my sport and my training regime, to get me back to work.” 

After the 2010 crash Mr Hutchinson had compound fractures to the bones running down from his knee and two of the three arteries feeding blood to the foot were damaged.

He was treated in the University Hospital of Coventry, where Mr Krkovic, a renowned consultant orthopaedic trauma surgeon, worked at the time.

Mr Hutchinson returned to the track the next year but after a further setback, in 2012, he faced 18 months’ recovery notching up his 30th procedure with Mr Krkovic, in September 2013.

David Watt, a consultant plastic surgeon, also performed a key role in the treatment.

Incredibly Mr Hutchinson then won the TT a further eight times between 2015 and 2017, to become the third most successful TT racer ever, before smashing his leg and ankle on the track, last month (June).

He was reunited with the Mr Krkovic, who now works at Addenbrooke’s Hospital, part of Cambridge University Hospitals, where the shattered ankle was removed and the surrounding bones were fused.

Mr Hutchinson, 37, from Bingley, West Yorkshire, also underwent procedures to extend his leg, which was about 35mm shorter after the ankle removal, and to pin his femur.

Mr Krkovic said: “My job is to get him fit and well and back to work, irrespective of what he does for a living. It just so happens he’s a famous sportsman.   

“That also means he’s an inspiration to anyone who has to undergo a similar procedure, so I’m hopeful we’ll see him on the track again fairly soon.

“I’ll be watching it through my fingers though. I’m a big fan of the man but not necessarily the sport and I find seeing him race too stressful.” 

Mr Hutchinson has been discharged from Addenbrooke’s Hospital but remains under the care of Mr Krkovic as an outpatient.