The Beat Goes On: Dr. Bernard Martin Saves Lynyrd Skynyrd Drummer’s Career

Depending on their style of drumming, the physical exertion of rock drummers approaches that of a pro athlete. Basher-style drummers apply about 450 pounds of kick force with their feet for each hit on the kick drum. As a comparison, kicking a soccer ball as hard as possible exerts about 300 to 450 pounds, but the difference is that drummers do this hundreds, if not thousands, of times during a concert.

Lynyrd Skynyrd drummer Michael Cartellone is a basher-style drummer. In 2023, after decades of playing, he began experiencing pain in his right big toe (his kick drum foot). “I reached a point where the pain while drumming became too much to deal with…and I realized I needed to do something about it,” he said.

Cartellone initially saw an orthopedic doctor who told him that he had a broken toe, a bone chip and a lot of arthritis. The doctor suggested a surgical procedure that would have involved inserting a steel rod into, which would prohibit his toe from ever bending again.

“I never considered the ortho’s plan for a second,” he said. “The idea of putting a steel rod into my toe, so it would never bend again and not cause me further pain, sounded ridiculous.” Instead, he opted for a cortisone injection, which provided only short-term relief.

Then, a friend of Cartellone told him about a successful foot surgery she had with Stony Brook Surgery’s Bernard Martin, DPM, from the Division of Podiatric Surgery.

While Dr. Martin had not treated any professional drummers during his 40-year career, he had helped many professional and college athletes with a variety of foot and ankle injuries. Dr. Martin told Cartellone about the Keller procedure, which he advised usually works well for most people.

“My initial reaction was it sounded ideal…and we immediately scheduled the surgery,” said Cartellone.

During the surgery, Dr. Martin discovered Cartellone’s big toe injury was worse than the X-rays had shown, and he was amazed that he could walk, let alone drum for hours.

Following the successful surgery, the next step for Cartellone was a four-month rehabilitation and follow-up visits with Dr. Martin. After receiving the okay to start playing again, he began — very carefully.

“I was afraid I would do something to ruin all the healing my foot had done. Thankfully, that did not happen.” Gradually, despite a few aches and cramps, his strength and confidence returned.

Six weeks later, Lynyrd Skynyrd played their first show on a new tour. Cartellone’s hard work at rehab and drumming practice paid off. Quickly overcoming any anxiety that may have remained, he and the band had a perfect gig. The band has played several concerts since then, and Cartellone is still drumming pain free.

Reflecting on his decision to choose the Keller procedure, Cartellone said, “Dr. Bernard Martin saved my career. I am not just saying that. He saved my career. I will be eternally grateful to him for doing so.”

Visit the Stony Brook Surgery blog for the complete story by Dan Olawski.