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President underwent evaluation in São Paulo to treat a keratosis on the scalp and relieve pain caused by tendinitis in the right thumb
President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva was admitted on the morning of this Friday, April 24, 2026, at the Sírio-Libanês Hospital in São Paulo, to undergo two medical procedures considered simple. The trip to the hospital was accompanied by the First Lady Janja.
The main procedure involves the cauterization of a keratosis on the scalp, a skin alteration that causes superficial thickening and can leave the area with a rough or scaly appearance. Lula had previously undergone a similar intervention in February of this year.
The second procedure is an injection in the right wrist to treat tendinitis in the thumb. The president had been reporting pain in his hand, and the application of anti-inflammatory medication directly to the affected area aims to reduce discomfort and improve mobility. The Communication Secretariat informed that Lula will not need to be hospitalized and will have no restrictions after the procedures.
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Scalp procedure is not related to neurological surgery
Despite involving the head area, the cauterization planned for Lula is a dermatological procedure on the scalp, and not a neurological intervention. The distinction is important because the president underwent surgery on his head in December 2024, following a problem related to an intracranial hemorrhage, but the current case is skin-related.
A keratosis is a lesion characterized by the growth or thickening of the outermost layer of the skin. In some cases, especially when associated with accumulated sun exposure, it needs to be monitored by a dermatologist to prevent progression or complications.
Cauterization is often used to quickly remove this type of alteration. The method destroys or removes the altered area, allowing the skin to heal after the procedure, usually without the need for hospitalization.
In the president’s case, the new intervention occurs in the same context of dermatological monitoring that had already begun previously. In February, Lula also underwent cauterization to treat a keratosis on his head.
Injection in the wrist aims to relieve tendinitis in the right thumb
In addition to the treatment on the scalp, Lula will also undergo an injection in the right wrist. The goal is to treat tendinitis in the thumb, a condition that can cause pain when moving the hand, holding objects, writing, greeting people, or performing repetitive movements.
Tendinitis occurs when there is inflammation or irritation in a tendon, the structure that connects muscle to bone and aids in joint movement. In the thumb area, this type of pain can affect simple tasks and become persistent when it does not improve with rest, physical therapy, or common medications.
The injection consists of applying anti-inflammatory medication directly to the affected area. Generally, this resource is used to reduce local inflammation and relieve pain more quickly, especially when discomfort interferes with daily movements.
In Lula’s case, aides stated that there was no need for prior medical preparation. A fixed time for the two procedures was also not provided, which were expected to be quick.
Presidential agenda should be preserved after rest in São Paulo
According to the disclosed schedule, Lula is expected to spend Friday and Saturday resting at his home in the Pinheiros neighborhood of São Paulo. His participation in the closing of the PT Congress in Brasília on Sunday was not yet confirmed in the available information.
The agenda for Monday, April 27, 2026, includes commitments in the interior of São Paulo. The president is expected to go to Presidente Prudente for the inauguration of the new radiotherapy center at the city’s Regional Hospital.
Afterwards, he is expected to proceed to Andradina, where he will participate in a ceremony focused on family agriculture. The program includes deliveries in the sector and the presentation of the National Strategy for the Development of Milk Production.
The maintenance of the agenda indicates that the procedures were treated by the government as low-complexity interventions. Still, due to involving the President of the Republic, any medical displacement usually receives political attention and immediate public repercussion.
Situation draws attention due to occurring amidst intense government routine
Lula’s trip to the hospital occurs in a week of political and administrative commitments. Even when the procedure is simple, the health of an acting president is usually closely monitored because it can affect the agenda, travel, public events, and government decisions.
In the current case, the information points to a scheduled appointment, without an emergency character. Keratosis cauterization and infiltration for tendinitis are common procedures in medical practice, each aimed at a specific complaint.
The main public concern tends to arise from the use of the expression “procedure on the head”. Technically, the case involves a lesion on the scalp, that is, on the skin, and not a new surgery related to the brain.
Even so, the episode reinforces attention on the president’s medical routine, who is 80 years old and maintains a frequent schedule of trips, meetings, and official events. The evaluation of any schedule changes should depend on immediate recovery and the doctors’ guidance.
A president’s health always generates debate, especially when there are upcoming political commitments and ongoing government decisions. Do you think simple medical procedures should be treated with total transparency by the Presidency, or does the exposure end up being exaggerated? Leave your comment and join the discussion.
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