Clayton Kershaw is out indefinitely with a back injury, and there were recent reports that he could need season-ending surgery. However, one spine expert thinks Kershaw is unlikely to need surgery.
LA Times Dodgers reporter Andy McCullough shared the information via Twitter Wednesday:
Spoke w/ Andrew Hecht, chief of spine surgery at NYC's Mount Sinai. Said given Kershaw's symptoms, surgery would be an unlikely option.
— Andy McCullough (@McCulloughTimes) July 20, 2016
Dodgers say Kershaw's issue is limited to his back. Surgery is usually necessary when compressed nerves cause pain in buttocks and legs.
— Andy McCullough (@McCulloughTimes) July 20, 2016
Let’s make it clear that these comments do not come from a doctor who is actively treating Kershaw, but rather someone who is a leader in the field.
Kershaw has been on the DL since late June with a mild herniated disc in his lower back. He attempted to throw a simulated game over the weekend but it didn’t go well, leading the Dodgers to shut him down indefinitely.
Perhaps some rest will help the southpaw recover. The three-time Cy Young Award winner is 11-2 with a 1.79 ERA this season. The Dodgers would love to have him back this season and have to be thrilled at the prospect of him avoiding surgery.
