BRENHAM NATIVE PERFORMS SURGERY ON HEISMAN HOPEFUL

  

A Brenham-native is the doctor responsible for repairing one of the most notable college athletes in the country.

Alabama junior quarterback Tua Tagovailoa underwent hip surgery Monday morning at the Memorial Hermann-Texas Medical Center in Houston to repair a season-ending injury he suffered Saturday.

The reason Tagovailoa underwent his surgery three states away from Tuscaloosa, was so surgery could be performed by renowned orthopaedic surgeon Dr. Chip Routt.

Routt, Brenham native and graduate of Brenham High School, one of the country’s leading experts in orthopedic trauma and fracture care and is internationally recognized for innovative surgical care for complex fractures, like the break in the hip joint socket, which is what Tagovailoa suffered.

Dr. Walt Lowe, the chief of orthopaedic surgery at Memorial Hermann, says Routt was the obvious choice to perform the highly specialized surgery.  He says Routt, “…really put the pelvic and acetabular world on the map earlier in his career,” …and that, “…Alabama made the right choice because this guy (Routt) is unbelievable at this problem.”

Tagovailoa will return to Tuscaloosa in the next several days to begin his rehabilitation.