Surgery

Pat Croce, the 76ers' president, underwent surgery yesterday for the third time in four days. In the aftermath of last Thursday's accident in which he suffered multiple fractures of the left leg, Dr.William DeLong took skin from an arm and thigh of Croce and grafted it to help the bone heal. The procedure took 31/2 hours. Croce was expected to remain in intensive care at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania for at least two days and is expected to remain hospitalized for another week or two. "Overall, his spirits are high and he seems to be accepting everything very well," DeLong said.

Cincinnati Reds outfielder Ken Griffey Jr. and pitcher Ryan Dempster underwent surgery yesterday. Starting pitcher Jimmy Haynes went back onto the disabled list for the second time this season because of a bulging disk in his lower back. Griffey had surgery on torn tissue and a torn rotator cuff in his right shoulder, which he dislocated April 5 while diving for a ball. He returned to play 37 days later, then suffered a season-ending tendon tear in his right ankle on July 17. He had ankle surgery a day later.

State Sen. Francis J. Lynch, 68, who just won one of the closest elections in his political career, underwent quintuple-bypass heart surgery yesterday. Lynch was in stable condition at Hahnemann University Hospital this morning. A hospital spokeswoman said Lynch's physician said the senator was "doing fine. " The surgery took place on the day Lynch's narrow victory became official. Election officials certified yesterday that Lynch had defeated Republican Bruce Marks on Nov. 6 by 851 votes.

Texas Tech basketball coach Bob Knight underwent surgery yesterday in Lubbock, Texas, for an intestinal obstruction related to scar tissue within the abdomen. Knight's doctors said the surgery went well, said Randy Farley, sports information director for the men's basketball program. Knight is expected to make a complete recovery and will return to work soon, Farley said. Dr. Michael Robertson, who performed Knight's surgery, didn't immediately return telephone messages left at his home.

Gov. Corbett is back to being governor and having strength in his weakened legs. The governor, 61, had successful back surgery Monday morning at Allegheny General Hospital after seeing doctors about a month ago after his persistent back and leg troubles had worsened. He was diagnosed with a narrowing of the spinal canal called spinal stenosis and underwent 90-minute corrective surgery. In a formality, Lt. Gov. Jim Cawley took over from 7:15 through 10:30 a.m. Corbett's wife, Susan, said she had to reject his first request after coming out of surgery.

A leading surgeon in sports medicine will examine Mike Schmidt today to determine whether the Phils veteran should undergo arthroscopic surgery to repair his torn rotator cuff. If Dr. James Andrews, of the Alabama Sports Medicine and Orthopedic Center, determines that the shoulder can be repaired through arthroscopic surgery, he may decide to immediately go ahead with the procedure, said Schmidt's agent, Arthur Rosenberg. Rosenberg said the examination will be performed in Birmingham, Ala., by Andrews, who has repaired the shoulder injuries of a number of major-league players, including Tigers shortstop Alan Trammell and pitchers Roger Clemens of the Boston Red Sox and Atlee Hammaker of the San Francisco Giants.

David West, whose persistent shoulder problems made him a halfhearted member of the Phillies' starting rotation this season, is expected to have major reconstructive surgery this week that could end his baseball career. Bobby Mu noz, who pitched a two-hit shutout in his most recent rehabilitation start at Scranton, rejoined the Phillies yesterday. West, a 30-year-old lefthander, will not return until the 1997 season at the earliest, said manager Jim Fregosi. Asked whether the surgery would be career-threatening, Fregosi said: "Yes, I would say that it is. He will not pitch all of next year.

Third baseman Mike Pagliarulo will undergo surgery Tuesday to have a bone fragment removed from his right hand and will be lost to the Minnesota Twins for at least four weeks. Pagliarulo broke the hook of the hamate bone in his hand during batting practice before Wednesday's game in Seattle. The bone is on the underside of the hand near the wrist. This is the second time this season Pagliarulo has been on the disabled list. He was hit in the head by a David West pitch and suffered a partially perforated eardrum during spring training and missed the first week of the season.

Charles Barkley isn't wild about the idea, but he will have surgery to remove bone spurs from his right shoulder. "I'm upset and a little disappointed," Barkley said yesterday. "I thought I was invincible. " The 76ers forward will have the surgery within the next two weeks. It probably will be performed arthroscopically by James Andrews, a surgeon from Birmingham, Ala., who specializes in shoulder operations. Andrews repaired the torn rotator cuff of the Phillies' Mike Schmidt in 1988.

SAN FRANCISCO - Brian Wilson has no regrets about how many times he pitched during the San Francisco Giants' improbable 2010 World Series title run. Nor about how he stayed on the mound at Colorado last week despite ligament damage in his arm. "Absolutely not," Wilson said. "That's how I play baseball. Push it to the limits. " Wilson has now reached his limit. San Francisco's bearded and boisterous closer said before Sunday's series finale against Pittsburgh that he probably will have elbow-reconstruction surgery, ending his season after only 56 pitches, two appearances and one save.