U2 star Bono underwent five hours of surgery following his cycling accident in New York.

The crash left the frontman needing two operations for multiple fractures, orthopaedic trauma surgeon Dr Dean Lorich of New York-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medical Centre and Hospital for Special Surgery, said.

Bono before the accident recording the new Band Aid song
Bono before the accident recording the new Band Aid song (PA)

The Irish singer was in a “high-energy bicycle accident” while trying to avoid another cyclist on Sunday, he said.

X-rays and tests at the Manhattan hospital revealed Bono had a facial fracture involving his left eye socket, his left shoulder blade was broken in three places and he also had a left elbow fracture that went through the skin and left the bone in six pieces.

U2 had earlier described the accident as a “cycling spill”.

Dr Lorich said the singer underwent a five-hour surgery that included washing his elbow out, moving a trapped nerve and inserting three plates and 18 screws on Sunday night. The singer had more surgery the next day to repair a fracture to his left little finger.

He will need therapy but a full recovery was expected, Dr Lorich said.

On Sunday, U2 guitarist The Edge, bassist Adam Clayton and drummer Larry Mullen posted that “Bono has injured his arm in a cycling spill in Central Park.”

They said the band would have to reschedule its planned week-long appearance on NBC’s Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon.