Rockets: Surgery on Yao's left foot 'successful'

HOUSTON: Chinese center Yao Ming underwent successful surgery to repair the left foot fracture that has ruled him out for all of the next NBA season, the Houston Rockets said on Tuesday.

The operation at the Memorial Hermann Sports Medicine Institute also included additional procedures to "change the alignment of his foot" and prevent the injury from recurring, said a report on the team's website (www.nba.com/rockets).

The seven-time all star has been blighted by injuries in recent years, the latest of which - described by team doctor Tom Clanton as "career threatening" - occurred during the Western Conference semifinals against the Los Angeles Lakers on May 8.