Media reports describe Roman Kostomarov, the Olympic champion in figure skating, as having faced a prolonged period of immobility at Kommunarka hospital. The accounts claim that during three months his health deteriorated to a point where both feet, both lower legs, and all fingers on his left hand required amputation, with the right hand already affected.
Recent surgical interventions reportedly halted the progression of gangrene and tissue death. Kostomarov remains conscious and communicates with colleagues through voice messages. Medical teams are also addressing significant liver damage related to drug exposure. There are statements that he is strong enough to begin the prosthetic process and replace the missing limbs with artificial devices.
According to REN TV, a discussion is underway about possibly transferring the skater to Germany for prosthetic fitting. Some relatives, however, advocate continuing treatment in Russia if feasible and avoiding an arduous flight.
German specialists have played a prominent role in the care, coordinating with Russian physicians via video conferences for three months and meeting Kostomarov’s wife, Oksana Domnina, a bronze medalist from the Vancouver Games. The Germans also travelled to Moscow to examine the athlete in person.
One REN TV source stated that two professors arrived to discuss the treatment plan, and doctors are now exploring how to prepare Kostomarov for prosthetics. A transfer decision to Germany would be made in consultation with Kostomarov and his wife.
MK reports that Kostomarov’s relatives are increasingly considering prosthetics abroad as an option.
As the situation evolves, some observers emphasize that the final decisions may rest with international experts rather than local physicians. Medical teams from the Central Clinical Hospital of the Russian Academy of Sciences have begun collaborating with German specialists to coordinate care for Kostomarov. There are notes that the athlete’s relatives have not fully trusted local medical teams.
Shortly after these statements, Domnina clarified that there were no plans to move Kostomarov abroad. She told TASS that treatment is proceeding as planned with participation from top specialists, and no relocation is in discussion for the time being.
There are indications that Kostomarov may be discharged from Kommunarka in the near term, with the prosthetic process expected to follow soon. Yet not all experts share this optimism. Pathologist Alexander Ediger cautions that the body must be stabilized before subjecting it to the strains of a prosthesis. He noted that information from the hospital suggests Kostomarov faced life-threatening conditions for weeks and emphasized the need to normalize internal organ function first, ideally under conditions close to resuscitation.
Rehabilitation professionals have urged a gradual return to physical activity. Alexander Shishonin, a rehabilitation doctor, recommends starting with breathing exercises and floor-based movements to rebuild strength after extended immobility. He explains that respiratory muscles are less prone to atrophy and that breathing exercises can provide the energy needed to progress to more demanding activities such as crawling, core work, and eventually standing routines.
Shishonin believes that a measured rehabilitation pace will permit Kostomarov to resume an active life with prosthetics. The goal is to prepare the body for the demands of using artificial limbs while maintaining overall health.
Another expert, neurologist and rehabilitation specialist Alexander Komarov, suggests that Kostomarov could potentially take part in ice shows again. He notes that modern prosthetic options include functional foot devices that may support skating activities. He stresses that bionic components can be highly responsive, enabling delicate control, from gripping a glass to sensing temperature. He also points out that some athletes continue to compete with prosthetics, highlighting the potential for Kostomarov to rejoin the ice in some capacity.
In clinical observations, Maxim Korolev, head of sports traumatology at a major medical center, mentions a patient who actively plays hockey with a bionic leg. He describes how contemporary prostheses integrate tendons, muscles, and neurosensors, enabling precise control. For hand prosthetics, users can perform everyday tasks with a natural feel, including identifying temperature and weight changes. Korolev notes that the cost of such advanced prostheses can reach several million rubles and emphasizes the sophisticated, surgical nature of these devices.