Polytrauma in a professional cyclist: A successful case of timely management, rehabilitation, and rapid return to high-level competition

Polytrauma in high-performance athletes presents a challenge due to the severity of the injuries sustained, which can involve multiple trauma mechanisms ranging from mild soft tissue contusions and lacerations, to open fractures of long bones, unstable pelvic fractures, among other consequences, that can lead to permanent disability or even mortality. This condition is commonly seen in athletes who are involved in high-speed or high-impact sports, with a significant percentage resulting in irreversible sequelae that can prematurely end their athletic careers. In light of the above, we present the case of a 25-year-old male professional cyclist with high-energy polytrauma and severe compromise, who upon admission had an Injury Severity Score (ISS) of 41 points. He was managed by a multidisciplinary team composed of surgical and clinical staff from the institution, emphasizing the early initiation of physical rehabilitation as a cornerstone of management and one of the key lessons learned from the case. The importance of effective teamwork, the establishment of rapid response plans for such scenarios, and the timely integration of rehabilitation as a fundamental aspect of care, alongside surgical and medical practices, is highlighted. The result was a successful case, bringing about total physical rehabilitation with no sequelae for the patient, who, furthermore, returned to the highest levels of international competition seven months later.