De La Fuente Schedules Arm Surgery

LATEST: Actor CRISTIAN DE LA FUENTE has scheduled surgery on his shattered arm for next week - after America's DANCING WITH THE STARS finale.

The Chilean hunk tore a muscle in his bicep during a samba on the reality TV contest two weeks ago and has been forced to wear a brace on his arm for subsequent dance-offs.

De La Fuente will check himself into hospital next Friday (23May08), three days after he learns whether or not he's America's new dancing king.

He says, "The arm cannot improve unless I have surgery and I have surgery scheduled for next Friday."

He admits his injury is causing him and partner Cheryl Burke problems in rehearsals for the big finale: "We don't use (the arm), but sometimes, if we fall after a lift or something, and I put my weight on my arm, it really hurts. It's something that we really have to avoid."