Not since David Beckham broke his metatarsal has an injury been so heavily scrutinised and analysed, with everyone wanting to know just what the procedure Tiger Woods has had done and just what will it mean for his career.
Anyone who watched the 15-time Major champion hobbling around Augusta National before pulling out of the Masters saw just how bad the problem was, and it forced him to have subtalar fusion surgery.
Woods has continued to insist, and indeed shown at times, that he can still hit all the shots and could even possibly contend in the Majors – even if just at Augusta and The Open which would bring his skill level and experience back into play more.
But just walking around a golf course for four days has proven too much, with lingering arthritis stemming from the injuries he suffered in his February 2021 car crash being the cause.
But, although at first glance Woods having more surgery sounded like the end, when we spoke to foot and ankle surgeon and consultant Nima Heidari (opens in new tab) it was a different, more positive story.
There’s a full breakdown below, but it’s basically because subtalar fusion surgery essentially means doctors have turned two bones and a joint below his ankle into one bigger bone, meaning he will be slightly restricted in the movement below his right ankle but crucially pain-free.
“I think actually it’s a very positive thing because he’s really recovered from the original injury,” Heidari told Golf Monthly. “He’s made an enormous amount of recovery from the original injury and a phenomenal recovery.
“And in fact if he has got a reduction in his pain, that could only mean good things for his play. Now, having had the operation and being out and so on, of course, he’s going to need a period of rehabilitation. But I mean, to be honest with you, if anyone is going to make a comeback it’s going to be Tiger Woods, this man is incredible.”
What is subtalar fusion?
(Image credit: Getty Images)
We’ll let our expert explain…
“What he had was he had broken the bone called the talus. And the talus is one of the main bones that connects your foot to your femur and thereby connects to the ankle joint.
“When you break the talus, the way that it breaks is arthritis of either the ankle joint, the subtalar joint and also the joint in front of the talus which is called the talus iginma joint, arthritis is the eventual outcome.
“So what you do is that when you’ve got a broken bone, you go in there and you place those screws and…
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