MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Argentine president son recovering from knee surgery; mother next to him

Maximo Kirchner had to be helped on board by bodyguards because of the very painful septic arthritis

Máximo Kirchner, 36, son of the President Cristina Fernández de Kirchner, is recovering from cleansing minor surgery for a septic arthritis of his right knee after he was hospitalized in the early hours of Monday at the Austral Hospital in the Greater Buenos Aires.

Kirchner junior arrived at 0:500 am to Buenos Aires Metropolitan airport after a three hours flight from Santa Cruz province accompanied by his girlfriend Rocío García and the Head of State, who ordered the special emergency flight in the Tango 01 Presidential airplane.

The official release from the Argentine presidential Medical Unit and the Austral hospital said Maximo was suffering from septic arthritis and “underwent treatment that included articular arthroscopic cleansing in the surgery ward to solve the infection with a successful result”. The diagnosis was confirmed following tests on the synovial liquid from the affected knee”.

The medical report adds that the President’s son a few days ago was suffering from “abdominal pains, the result of a diverticulitis medical profile” and was recovering from a strong case of flu.

Maximo is under observation “in stable condition and in good spirits” at the same Austral hospital where his mother underwent thyroid cancer surgery last January which resulted successful with “no inconveniences or complications”.

Cristina Fernandez cancelled Monday’s agenda to visit her son in hospital. However there was no announcement about the rest of the week’s activities of the president.

Septic arthritis, also known as infectious arthritis, may represent a direct invasion of joint space by various micro-organisms, most commonly caused by a variety of bacteria.

In septic arthritis, germs infiltrate a joint — usually just one — and damage it, causing severe pain, warmth and swelling. Bacteria most commonly target a knee, though other joints can be affected by septic arthritis, including ankle, hip, wrist, elbow and shoulder.

Argentine medical sources indicate the primary morbidity of septic arthritis is significant dysfunction of the joint, even if treated properly. Fifty percent of adults with septic arthritis have significant sequel of decreased range of motion or chronic pain after infection, while 30% of cases of reactive arthritis may become chronic. Complications include dysfunctional joints, osteomyelitis, and sepsis.

According to Santa Cruz media reports Maximo boarded Tango 01 at 2:00 am and had to be helped on board because of difficulties walking. Tango 01 a few hours before had flown Cristina Fernandez back to Buenos Aires but on arrival and informed of her son’s condition ordered the plane back, with her, to pick up Maximo who at all time was accompanied by the presidential doctor, Luis Buonomo.

The Argentine president spent the weekend at her home in Calafate next to her son and daughter Florencia, in preparation for her flight to New York to deliver a speech claiming the Falklands/Malvinas before the UN Decolonization committee or C 24.

She is scheduled to leave Buenos Aires Wednesday 19:00 hours with Foreign Minister Hector Timerman and a numerous delegation that includes lawmakers from several parties, governors and Malvinas veterans.

On Thursday, at 15:00 hours the Argentine president will be addressing the C24. From New York and following a working lunch with thirty leading CEOs from US industry and finance, Cristina Fernandez is scheduled to leave for Los Cabos, Mexico for the G20 summit, June 18/19.

The Argentine official media was quick to point out that under Decree 648/2004 the Secretariat and Military House from the Presidency of the Nation, among other duties must provide security to the President and his direct relatives, and this includes the planning, coordination, execution and supervision of presidential flights for the head of state and those he specifically orders for members of the Executive and national and foreign personalities, inside and outside the Argentine territory.