Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva canceled his trip to Russia after suffering a head injury in an accident at home on Saturday.
The 78-year-old is expected to travel on Sunday afternoon to attend the Brics summit – a grouping of major developing countries including Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa .
A leading hospital in the capital Brasília said it had advised the president to temporarily avoid long-haul flights.
He will now participate in meetings via video link.
In a statement, Sírio-Libanês Hospital in Brasília said the president had been advised not to travel long distances, but could continue other activities as normal.
It added that Lula suffered a laceration to the back of her head and was being monitored by doctors.
The president’s office said he will participate in the summit virtually from Brasília and will continue his other work.
His office did not release any details about his injuries.
Citing doctors at the hospital, local media said the president was sent home on Saturday after needing five stitches.
He then returned to the hospital on Sunday morning for observation and was then sent home, local media said.
Lula is scheduled to depart at 17:00 local time (20:00 GMT) on Sunday for his first face-to-face meeting with President Vladimir Putin this year.
On Friday, Putin announced that he would not attend the G20 summit in Brazil next month.
He said his appearance could “disrupt” the conference and insisted the International Criminal Court (ICC) arrest warrant was not a factor.
Last year Putin skipped the previous Brics summit in South Africa after the ICC issued an arrest warrant for him.
If Putin leaves Russian soil, he will be subject to an arrest warrant. As ICC signatories, South Africa and Brazil are expected to assist in arresting Putin.
The Brics group is seen by some as an alternative to the G7 group of advanced economies.
The forum was founded 15 years ago by major emerging markets such as Brazil, Russia, India, China and has since expanded to South Africa, Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran and the United Arab Emirates best.
This year’s summit will take place in the Russian city of Kazan from Tuesday to Thursday.
