SAN DIEGO (KGTV) -- Following major surgery, in which trauma specialists inserted a rod into Tiger Wood's right leg to stabilize the bones, the 15-time major champion took to Twitter thanking everyone for their support and well wishes.
Dr. David Chao, an orthopedic surgeon who spent 16-years with the San Diego Chargers, says while he was not apart of Tiger's surgical team, and only viewed procedure from afar, it's what he expected for this type of traumatic injury.
"The rod is stabilizing the bones right now on the tibia, and I think it's a good thing. A worse sign would be an external fixator with an erector set on the outside of his leg. So that gives hope that at least that area of the leg maybe the wounds are not that bad."
But as is the case with any surgery, there is always a risk of infection.
"Hopefully Tiger can avoid that. That's why I talk about the soft tissue, and the muscles in the skin around it, which are the bigger deal now than even the bone."
Dr. Chao says everyone heels differently, and Tiger's rehabilitation will take some time. So as it relates to the severity if the injury, and the timetable of getting back on the folf course, might Tig;er's career be in jeopardy?
"Is he going to be able to golf again, that answer would be a 100 percent yes. Will he be the Tiger of old, I think that is a lot to ask."
Now we all remember the 2008 U.S. Open at Torrey Pines, when Tiger won while playing with a broken leg. This injury is totally different.
"A stress fracture and microscopic fracture versus this injury, where something was dangling, are completely different issues."
