Yao Ming will undergo surgery next week to repair the hairline fracture in his left foot and alter the operation of his foot in an effort to prevent recurrence of the injuries that have ended his past two seasons, an individual with knowledge of his decision said on Friday.
After several weeks spent considering his options, Yao chose a surgery that will include a bone graft and a realignment of the bones in his left foot to alleviate some of the stress in that area that could have led to the hairline fractures in the tarsal navicular bone the past two seasons.
There had been discussions about a more experimental procedure that would increase blood flow to the area, though that seems a less likely option.
The Rockets have been hesitant to place a timetable on Yao’s recovery if he chose this surgery, but the NBA granted the Rockets a disabled player exception that indicated that its doctors agreed that Yao is likely out for all of next season.
The 2009-10 season will be the fifth consecutive season that has been interrupted, ended or missed because of a bone injury.
Yao, 28, had pins placed in the same bone in February, 2008, but returned to the court to play in the Olympics six months later and played in 77 regular-season games without problems.
The bone cracked again, however, May 8 in Game 3 of the Rockets' Western Conference semifinals series against the Los Angeles Lakers. The Rockets tried to treat the injury by immobilizing the foot, but a CT scan showed on June 24 that it had not it had not healed and had instead gotten worse.
A seven-time All-Star, Yao has averaged 19.1 points on 52.5 percent shooting in his career, adding 9.3 rebounds and 1.9 blocked shots.
In the playoffs, he has averaged 19.8 points and 9.3 rebounds in 28 games, advancing past the first round for the first time in four playoff appearances with this seasons win against the Portland Trail Blazers.
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