Taylor was absent for this morning's 61-run loss in the second and final Twenty20 after sustaining a grade two AC displacement in his left shoulder, and he revealed today the injury could see him return home.
At the very least, Taylor should miss all five matches in the one-day series, starting in Jamaica on Friday, but the prognosis could be worse.
"Depending on the severity of the injury, [I'll miss] anywhere between two and six weeks but hopefully I'll be going for the closer time. I haven't given myself a timeframe, hopefully no longer than the test matches.
"We'll have a better assessment in the next week or so, then I'll have a better idea of where I'm at. If I'm looking positive then I'll stay on, if not then I'll obviously come home."
Northern Districts bowler Trent Boult has been added to the ODI squad, as the selectors feel the current squad possesses sufficient batting resources to cope with the loss of the captain.
The injury adds to a terrible recent run of injuries for Taylor. He was sidelined for four weeks in January after straining his calf during the solitary test against Zimbabwe, before breaking his arm in the third test against South Africa in March and being forced to sit out the lucrative Indian Premier League.
"It's been a frustrating six months for me, to be honest," he said. "I haven't spent a lot of time on the paddock and missed a lot more cricket than I would have liked."
In his absence, Kane Williamson captained the national side for the first time and, with regular vice-captain Brendon McCullum also being rested for the one-day series, the 21-year-old is set to continue in the role.
Taylor thought Williamson coped well with the additional responsibility, especially considering the short notice.
"He was obviously very nervous and he only had a day to prepare for it. I thought his bowling changes were very good and he went with his gut - that's quite often what you have to do.
"He showed promising signs and the team got in behind him."
Unfortunately for the Black Caps, solidarity took them only so far. After being blitzed by Chris Gayle (53 from 39) for the second day running, the New Zealand bowlers managed to restrict the West Indies to 177-5.
But the Black Caps' run chase never got off the ground and they eventually fell 61 runs short when bowled out in the 19th over to lose the series 2-0.
