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Chinese superstar centre Yao Ming's broken left foot could be a "career-threatening" injury according to the team doctor for the NBA's Houston Rockets.

Tom Clanton told the Houston Chronicle that the 7'6" giant's decision on what sort of treatment he wants to fix the break could see him miss the entire 2009-2010 NBA season or have the potential to risk his career.

"At this point, the injury has the potential for him missing this next season and could be career threatening," Clanton told the Chronicle.

"One of the things we are trying to get is a consensus opinion on that, to make certain there is no option we are overlooking that would provide an earlier return or would be an option for treatment that he would prefer rather than doing additional surgery."

Yao is planning to meet with several specialists to consider all possible alternatives regarding his fourth bone injury in as many years.

Clanton would not say what his advice would be but said Yao could try again to immobilize the foot to hope the fracture heals on its own.

"I don't think that is necessarily a long shot," Clanton said. "It takes a lot of time. It may be best to take more time. Sometimes that is the best option."

Several previous Yao bone injuries have been solved that way and doctors hopes this one would as well but last week it was learned that the injury has not healed and that Yao would be sidelined indefinitely.

But Clanton said the injury had grown worse instead of improving when examined under a CT scan last week.

Doctors will re-examine Yao to determine if there has been a reduced supply of blood in the area, which would hinder healing.

"The hairline fracture that is present in the previous X-rays shows evidence it has not healed and has extended across the bone," Clanton said.

Surgical options would include inserted a metal pin inside the foot, a bone graft or possibly rebuilding his arch, an option similar to one used on Cleveland Cavaliers centre Zydrunas Ilgauskas of Lithuania.

"It's more that's what we're hoping to avoid but that's certainly a realistic situation given his injury and the way the bone looked on the CT scan," Clanton said. "The fact he is having no symptoms gives us reason for optimism."

Yao suffered the injury in a May 8 play-off game against the eventual NBA champion Los Angeles Lakers after playing 77 regular-season games, the most he had competed in since the 2004-2005 campaign.

Foot and leg injuries hampered Yao in the three prior seasons. He missed 21 games in the 2005-2006 season with an infected left big toe that required surgery and then broke a bone in his left foot four games before the end of the season.

The following season, Yao broke his right leg and missed 32 games. In the 2007-2008 campaign, Yao suffered a left foot stress fracture that required surgery and missed 26 games but recovered in time for the Beijing Olympics.

AFP