Jake Polledri will miss Italy's Six Nations meeting with Ireland next week after the Italian rugby federation said on Saturday that the Gloucester flanker required surgery on his right shoulder.
In a statement, the FIR said tests carried out by Polledri's club revealed an injury to the rotator cuff tendons of his right shoulder.
"The prognosis of the injury and the duration of his recovery will be assessed on the basis of the outcome of surgery," the FIR added.
The 27-year-old was substituted late on in last weekend's 31-14 defeat to England at Twickenham, and the FIR said he felt pain in his shoulder after the match.
The England loss was Polledri's first appearance for the Azzurri since November 2020.
Italy host Ireland at the Stadio Olimpico in Rome next Saturday having lost both their opening matches to France and England.
Ireland top the table with two bonus point wins, including last weekend's home victory against Six Nations holders and World Cup favourites France.