"He will be far from optimal performance" - Orthopedic surgeon critical of Kim Huybrechts' chances at qualifying tournament for Flanders Darts Trophy

Kim Huybrechts underwent successful surgery for a collarbone fracture last weekend. The 38-year-old Belgian can now start working on his recovery.

Huybrechts was beaten up after the soccer match Antwerp-Union (final Cup of Belgium). The darter sustained two fractures in his collarbone in the process. "The operation went well," orthopedic surgeon Nick Jansen told Het Nieuwsblad.

A day after surgery, he was allowed to go home. Early this week, he immediately began his rehabilitation. "He needs to move as soon as possible, that shoulder is stabilized. He may come out of the sling and do some small movements."

"He is absolutely not allowed to throw darts at the moment," the sports doctor stressed. "If after that period it appears that the wound has healed well and he feels well enough, then we can look at increasing his activities. Starting Monday, the exercise sessions with his physiotherapist will be started."

Huybrechts hopes to compete in darts tournaments again within the next few weeks, for example, he has his sights set on the qualifying tournament for the Flanders Darts Trophy. "Kim already told me that he wanted to play that qualifying tournament that starts in four weeks at all costs, whether we let him or not," Jansen said. "I did make it clear to him that he will be able to perform far from optimally. The motivation is very high with him, which is good, but Kim will not make a big deal about those games yet," the doctor knows. "For that, he will still lack the necessary strength in the shoulder and the precision will not yet be as it should be. That is different from a cyclist, who can play sports again after a week, because he has to do the work mainly with his legs."

"If after six weeks the X-ray shows some form of calcification, then we think it is justified to perform a competitive load again. That movement happens largely from the ball-socket joint and not through his collarbone, but after a recovery of barely four weeks, optimal performance is out of the question," Jansen concluded.