Bono was back in the U.S. on Sunday after participating in the charity single recording of Band Aid 30 in London on Saturday. The bike accident happened on that same Sunday when the singer was riding his bike in New York's Central Park.
While riding, Bono attempted to avoid another rider which caused him to meet a 'high energy bicycle accident' as described by the doctors. He was then rushed to New York-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medical Center's Emergency Department where he underwent a number of X-rays and CAT scans. He also needed to undergo surgery which lasted for five hours.
"He was taken emergently to the operating room for a five-hour surgery Sunday evening where the elbow was washed out and debrided, a nerve trapped in the break was moved and the bone was repaired with three metal plates and 18 screws," said orthopedic trauma surgeon Dr. Dean Lorich in a statement.
According to the doctor, Bono broke his shoulder in three places and had also endured pain in his upper arm or left humerus which was shattered in six places. This made the bone poke through the skin which then categorizes the humerus break as a compound break.
In the surgery that lasted for five hours, doctors had to wash out and clean up the singer's elbow. They also had to move a nerve that went trapped in the break and repair a bone with three metal plates and 18 screws.
The singer also suffered from a broken bone in the orbit of his left eye.
Lorich added that 54-year old Bono will need intensive and progressive therapy though they are expecting him to gain full recovery.
On Monday, Bono had a second surgery where his left hand was treated from a fracture in the pinky finger.
Bono's accident happened on the eve of the group's scheduled residency on 'The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon' for one week.
"It looks like we will have to do our 'Tonight Show' residency another time - we're one man down," wrote the band on their website. "Bono has injured his arm in a cycling spill in Central Park and requires some surgery to repair it. We're sure he'll make a full recovery soon, so we'll be back! Much thanks to Jimmy Fallon and everyone at the show for their understanding."
In U2's absence, Jimmy Fallon, who dressed up with some Bono-imitating garb such as a jacket, cap, and glasses, took the stage and performed the band's classic 'Desire' with 'The Roots' as his back up. The performance was lauded by the Irish group and described it in their website as 'sensational.'
