Dr. Robert Zura Helps Guide Jockey Paco Lopez From Serious Ankle Injury to Preakness Victory
When professional jockey Paco Lopez suffered a severe ankle injury during a race at New Orleans’ Fair Grounds, his future in racing was suddenly uncertain. The injury was serious: a fracture-dislocation involving a broken fibula, significant soft tissue damage, and the need for surgical reconstruction of three ligaments.
Lopez was taken to University Medical Center New Orleans, where he came under the care of orthopedic surgeon Robert Zura, MD. As chairman of orthopedics at LSU School of Medicine, Dr. Zura brought deep experience in treating complex, high-impact injuries, including fractures seen in elite athletes.
For Lopez, that experience mattered. As a jockey, his ankle is central to everything he does. Balance, strength, timing, and control all depend on the joint functioning properly. Dr. Zura understood that the goal was not only to repair the injury, but to help restore the level of function Lopez would need to return to competitive riding.
After allowing time for swelling to improve, Dr. Zura and his surgical team performed a successful procedure to realign and stabilize the ankle. The surgery was designed to help the joint heal correctly while preserving as much mobility and function as possible.
Lopez’s recovery moved quickly, but it was not without careful guidance. Dr. Zura advised him to avoid weight-bearing for six weeks and emphasized a measured rehabilitation plan. Lopez committed himself to the process, using low-impact movement, physical therapy, and steady strengthening to rebuild his ankle.
What happened next was remarkable. Just seven weeks after the injury, Lopez was back galloping horses. Soon after, he returned to competitive racing. Then, only months after surgery, he rode Napoleon Solo to victory in the Preakness Stakes, one of the biggest stages in horse racing.
Dr. Zura was quick to credit Lopez’s toughness, discipline, and resilience, but the story also reflects the importance of advanced orthopedic care. For athletes and active patients, a serious injury can threaten more than mobility. It can threaten a career, a livelihood, and a way of life.
Through expert surgical care, a thoughtful recovery plan, and a patient determined to return, Paco Lopez’s journey became more than a comeback story. It became a powerful example of what is possible when specialized orthopedic care meets extraordinary personal drive.