REMARKABLE DEVELOPMENTS FOR RAMSEY

AARON RAMSEY has taken the first tentative steps on his long road to recovery after an innovative operation to mend his shattered right leg.

The Arsenal teenager has already stood on the limb - just days after it was horrifically broken in two places by Stoke defender Ryan Shawcross' X-rated challenge at the Britannia Stadium last Saturday.

Surgeons have inserted two steel rods in Ramsey's smashed tibia and fibula but, unusually, have NOT put the leg in plaster.

Ramsey has been engulfing the leg in ice packs on the sofa at his family home in Wales, but told a pal: "I've felt comfortable enough to stand up and put some weight on it."

Ramsey, 19, has received more than 50,000 messages of support in the forms of letters, e-mails, phone calls and texts.

While some of his current Arsenal team-mates and former Cardiff pals have also visited him.

Another of his close friends, former Cardiff youth team mate Darcy Blake, added: "I'm seeing him on Sunday. He's back at home with his family in Caerphilly for a week but will return to Arsenal to have his stiches out.

"He's hobbling around on crutches and feeling sorry for himself. His ankle and knee are swollen and very sore.

"But knowing Aaron he will be throwing the crutches away before very long.

"It's a long road back and he realises he has to take it easy for a few weeks.

"There's not much he can do and is already bored.

"I spoke to him on Friday night and he told me he's lying on the sofa with three ice packs on his leg.

"I've just taken up snooker but he's already talking about standing on the leg to play against me.

"It shows how competitive he is at every sport he plays."

Ramsey, who admits he has seen images of his horrific injury and, at the time, noticed "my leg was broken and hanging at an angle" is expected to be out for at least nine months.

Successful

He was taken to the North Staffordshire Hospital before being transferred to London where a top orthopedic surgeon inserted the steel rods into his leg.

Wales team medical officer Dr Mark Ridgewell confirmed: "The surgery has been successful. There was no significant damage to the skin and it was a clean break.

"Aaron needs an uncomplicated recovery, but it looks like things have gone well so far.

"After surgery you can have problems with bleeding and pressure effects, but there have been no signs of that.

"It was crucial he was dealt with expertly by the Arsenal medical team, who got him to hospital quickly.

"He is in the best hands at Arsenal and has the best medical facilities available."

News of the World medical expert, Dr Hilary Jones added: "I must say the operation carried out on Aaron is a pretty unusual, and reasonably recent, procedure.

"You would normally want to immobilise a broken bone for at least six weeks and, in the past, a cast was always put on or, at least, some kind of plastic walking boot.

"But with mid-shaft break of the tibia and fibula, as Aaron suffered, this is no longer necessary.

"If the fracture was near the knee or the ankle, he would almost certainly be in plaster.

"In the procedure, a nail or rod is slipped through the middle of each broken bone into the soft marrow area and used to unite the breaks.

"Because the nail is rigid it makes it stable enough to allow the person to walk on the leg without a plaster cast.

"A small incision will be made just below the knee of about ¾ of a centimetre and the nails will be run through the shaft of each of the broken bones.

"There will also be three little stab wounds put into the leg to help the surgeon manipulate the nails.

"In each case, the length of the rod will be about 2/3 the length of the bone.

"Because of the location of the fracture that will make it stable enough to walk around with crutches almost immediately."

OPERATION AARON: Diagram

Ramsey is now in the expert care of Gunners' club doctor Gary O'Driscoll and physios Colin Lewin and David Wales, while fitness coach Tony Colbert will also be involved in the rehabilitation programme.

Ramsey admitted: "This is a real setback. It is very hard to take, but I am young and have time on my side.

"I am determined and focussed on overcoming this injury and hope to be back fitter and stronger than before."

Welsh team-mate Chris Gunter, who used to share a flat with Ramsey, said: "I've spoken to him every day. He's still a bit down as it's been a tough time for him.

"But if anyone has any doubts about him coming back they will see he will come back even stronger - that's the type of guy he is."

Fellow Wales team-mate James Collins, who recovered from a career-threatening knee injury, added: "the first couple of months will be tough.

"He's got to get it mentally right first.

"But as soon as you see the light at the end of the tunnel, when you are set a date to play again, it makes it easier.

"Until then it is tough and worrying. When I was told I would be out for a year, I was devastated.

"All you want to do is play - he will be feeling the same at the moment."