Shaq’s Surgery No Certainty

In the trial and intrigue phase of Laker center Shaquille O’Neal’s fragile right big toe, the prospect of human error hardly arose.

O’Neal sat Wednesday in a Philadelphia Warrior jersey with Wilt Chamberlain’s No. 13 on it, sheepish that his offensive contribution to a 41-point win over the Charlotte Hornets the night before was nine points in 26 minutes.

Coach Phil Jackson was forced to rest O’Neal after his center complained his pain was more acute than usual, despite Monday’s day off.

“I forgot my medication,” said O’Neal, who is on a steady anti-inflammatory prescription. “I forgot to take it and I was struggling [Tuesday] night. Won’t happen again.”

In the throes of that raw ache, O’Neal said he was fairly certain he would submit to the postseason surgery he hoped would dull the pain in the arthritic toe, stricken with what doctors call hallux limitus, and restore his mobility. And while there are a handful of procedures that could eventually relieve O’Neal of his digital woes, his podiatrist, Dr. Robert Mohr, said Wednesday that predictions of surgery were premature.

Indeed, as the Lakers packed for their one-day trip to play the Golden State Warriors, O’Neal awaited the arrival of representatives from his shoe company, Starter, who would deliver another modified sneaker. New orthotics were expected soon, as well.

“I really am confident that it’s going to make a big improvement in his comfort level,” said Mohr, the chief of podiatric surgery at UCLA Medical Center. “So, surgery may not be the answer. I understand where he’s coming from. He just wants this pain to stop. He understands there are surgical options that will eliminate his pain. I’m sure that sounds pretty attractive right now, because he’s hurting. But if we could stop him from hurting, non-surgically, I’m sure he’d be overjoyed.

“If we could get him pain-free, and allow him to play the rest of his career without any surgery, that would be wonderful. That’s our goal first.”

Mohr said he would like a resolution quickly; for one thing, the playoffs begin in five weeks.

“Certain things just take time,” he said. “Shoe development takes time. Believe me, I have to tell you, the people who are making his shoes could not be more cooperative. I’m working directly with their design people. But Shaq’s needs are a lot different than yours or mine. This is his career here. So, it’s extremely important.”

That said, there are a few procedures that could help O’Neal, the least drastic of which could have him back by next training camp.

In the best scenario for the Lakers and O’Neal, the surgery would amount to a cleanup around the joint and require only four to six weeks for the primary healing, according to Mohr.

In the worst, doctors would shave the cartilage from the bone and insert screws across the joint that would promote fusing. He would be on crutches for at least two months, and not be on a basketball court for three or four months “Surgery, especially these more drastic procedures, are salvage procedures,” Mohr said. “Once the joint is fused, nothing else can be done for it. If all we need to do is clean up the joint, that may buy him a number of years, and then later on he may require a joint fusion or another procedure.”

There are other surgical possibilities, Mohr said, but he could not predict where O’Neal’s treatment would lead, particularly not if surgery were required.

“These are conditions where, with all the scans and all the X-rays, there’s really no way to determine exactly what the condition of the cartilage is prior to looking at it,” he said.