'Michael Schumacher now seems unlikely to make full recovery'

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The 45-year-old fell while skiing in France and hit his head
Doctors removed blood clots from his brain but had to leave the deep ones
Last month doctors began process of withdrawing sedatives to wake him up
His agent, Sabine Kehm, said today: 'Michael is still in the wake-up phase'

PUBLISHED: 11:25 EST, 28 February 2014 | UPDATED: 14:03 EST, 28 February 2014

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Neurologists have warned that Michael Schumacher now seems unlikely to make a full recovery after spending nearly two months in a drug-induced coma.

The 45-year-old Schumacher fell while skiing in France and hit the right side of his head on a rock, cracking his helmet.

Doctors operated to remove blood clots from his brain, but some were left because they were too deeply embedded.

Nearly two months after Michael Schumacher suffered serious head injuries in a skiing accident some neurologists say the seven-time Formula One champion seems unlikely to make a full recovery. The racer with his wife Corrina

The seven-time Formula One champion's condition stabilised after he was placed in the coma.

Late last month, doctors began the process of withdrawing sedatives to try to wake him up.

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His agent, Sabine Kehm, said in an email today that 'Michael is still in the wake-up phase' and that 'this phase can be long.'

Schumacher's family has released few details of his condition to protect his privacy.

'It does not bode well,' said Dr. Tipu Aziz, professor of neurosurgery at Oxford University who is not connected to Schumacher's care.

'The fact that he hasn't woken up implies that the injury has been extremely severe and that a full recovery is improbable.'

His agent, Sabine Kehm, said in an email today that 'Michael is still in the wake-up phase' and that 'this phase can be long'

Patients who have had major head injuries are sometimes put in a drug-induced coma to give the brain a chance to heal; a coma reduces the need for blood flow and may help the swelling go down.
Aziz said doctors typically try every few days to bring someone out of a coma.

'If you don't start getting any positive signs, that becomes very worrisome,' he said, adding that Schumacher's doctors are probably doing regular brain scans to look for signs of activity - though such signs may be difficult to detect if he is still being sedated.

Other experts said it was premature to make an accurate prognosis.

'About 90 percent of the recovery is made within nine to 12 months, so this is still early days,' said Dr.

Anthony Strong, an emeritus chair in neurosurgery at King's College London. 'The longer someone is in a coma, the worse their recovery tends to be.'

His agent, Sabine Kehm, said in an email today that 'Michael is still in the wake-up phase' and that 'this phase can be long'

Now that several weeks have passed since the accident, doctors may also have a better idea of how the rest of Schumacher's brain is doing.

'MRI scans can show any secondary deterioration in the brain structure,' said Dr. Colin Shieff, a neurosurgeon at the National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery in London and a trustee for Headway, a British brain injury charity.

He said other parts of Schumacher's brain that weren't directly affected by the accident might now be starting to show worrying signs that may not have been visible before.

Shieff said that if Schumacher does eventually come out of the coma, he probably would face significant disabilities because of the length of time he has already spent comatose.

While there have been rare instances of people emerging from comas months and years later with the ability to communicate, Shieff was doubtful that would be the case with Schumacher.

He said the cases where comatose people made a surprising recovery had mostly suffered things like poisoning, strokes or failed resuscitation attempts.

Treatment: Schumacher is currently being kept under anaesthetic at the University Hospital (above) in France

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Forlorn Hope, A Big Block of Apartments, Monaco, 17 hours ago

Miracles do happen, occasionally.

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Sandy Brown, London, 17 hours ago

I was thinking that anyway. So maybe I was right.

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catherine c, London, United Kingdom, 17 hours ago

Where there is life there is hope. Thoughts and prayers to Michael and family.

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tsaagan, London, United Kingdom, 17 hours ago

God will make a way where there seems to be no way. Faith will see you through Schumy. I pray you get well soon.

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British, Wiesbaden, Germany, 17 hours ago

If it is down to an iron will to come out of this coma, Michael Schumacher will make it. Miracles do happen and if anybody deserves it then Michael. He is a rare breed in Germany because he is a truly international person. Such a decent person has to make a full recovery. I think he is being treated by a superb medical team who are also taking such care to guard his privacy. My very best wishes to him and his dear family.

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Theone2013, Manchester, United Kingdom, 17 hours ago

Wishing him a speedy recovery.

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angry ebony man, port of pain, Trinidad and Tobago, 18 hours ago

Unless a miracle happens,I think the future is very bleak for Michael,to think hes only 45 with a loving family and a billion in the bank,so sad..

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y_not, Alfreton, United Kingdom, 18 hours ago

The fact that he is still in a coma is due to the drugs! Only when the drugs are fully ended will we know the full extent of any effects - until then it is all speculation and rubbish! Wish him well but understand that head injury is never a speedy recovery.