Experts Say Injury Very Rare

The back injury that might keep hockey star Wayne Gretzky off the ice this season is extremely rare, medical experts said Tuesday night.

As a result, orthopedic surgeons have little information on treatment of a herniated thoracic disk, an injury in the midsection of the back behind the ribs.

“It’s a hard area to get to surgically,” said Tony Daly, the Clippers’ team physician. “Some of this is unchartered waters.”

The injury, which might have occurred from a single incident or over a period of time--Gretzky and his physician were not sure--will take time to heal naturally.

The disk is a layer of fibrous, jelly-like connective tissue between the vertebrae. Experts said that, when herniated, the material pushes into the area of the spinal cord or presses against nerves, causing pain.

Jerome Schofferman, a back specialist with the Spine Care Medical Group of Daly City, Calif., said treatment of an athlete typically starts with injections of a corticosteroid, an anti-inflammatory drug.

“It is highly unlikely (Gretzky) would damage himself by playing further if the pain were somewhat reduced,” said Schofferman, who with associate Arthur White repaired the lumbar spine of Joe Montana, quarterback of the San Francisco 49ers.