Curran had a pre-existing 'hot spot' in his right navicular bone when he was drafted by North last November, but the club opted to rest the key forward for most of the 2012 pre-season in the hope his foot would heal naturally.
North football chief Donald McDonald told AFL.com.au the club was confident Curran's setback was not a sign he would have on-going foot problems.
"We took a really conservative approach with him when he came into the club," McDonald said.
"At the time, we didn't go with the surgery option. We put him in a moon boot because that was the advice from the medicos.
"About a week ago he started to get a little bit sore so we went in and got it scanned and the doctors just felt that the best option now was to put a screw in it.
"Our medical guys are extremely confident that he will be right, but the feet are tricky so we've taken a really conservative, longer-term approach and this is now the next step."
McDonald said North had not ruled Curran out for 2012, but stressed that having him ready to start the 2013 pre-season was a higher priority.
Curran will now most likely be put onto North's long-term injury list, which will give the Kangaroos the option of promoting a third rookie to their senior list, McDonald said.
Recurring navicular injuries threatened Essendon great James Hird's career in the late 1990s and forced Geelong centre half-back Matthew Egan into premature retirement after his All Australian 2007 season.
But Melbourne co-captain Jack Grimes has made a successful return from a navicular stress fracture this season.
Nick Bowen covers North Melbourne news for AFL Media. Follow him on Twitter: AFL_Nick
