As the author of four medical textbooks, Dr. Brotzman’s contributions to orthopedic surgery extend far beyond his office and operating table. His “Clinical Orthopedic Rehabilitation” is a best-selling textbook published by Mosby Harcourt Elsevier, the world’s largest medical publisher, and has been translated into 12 languages. It has become required reading in many medical schools, physical therapy schools and rehabilitative medicine programs.
Dr. Brent Brotzman
North Austin Sports Medicine by Jon Black Photography by Steve DeMent
For Dr. Brent Brotzman, working at North Austin Sports Medicine isn’t just business – it’s personal. “As a stateranked tennis player as well as a snow skier and wake surfer, I love treating athletes in a manner that allows a safe and rapid return to their sports after injury,” explains the orthopedic/lower extremity surgeon. North Austin Sports Medicine provides a variety of orthopedic services to treat sports injuries and provide fracture care as well as offering arthroscopic procedures and other services. A board certified orthopedic surgeon who conducted an additional fellowship in lower extremity surgery, Dr. Brotzman focuses on sports medicine injuries of the lower extremities: the foot, ankle and knee.
58
A U S T I N MD M A G A Z I N E . C O M
He addresses problems by using cutting-edge treatment but also treats athletes functionally. “If an athlete comes in with, for example, Achilles tendinitis, most orthopedic surgeons will employ anti-inflammatories, a walking cam boot, et cetera.” he explains. “At my practice, I work hand in hand with the therapist to figure out the underlying problem causing the tendon overload and failure – and how to prevent that from reoccurring.” Among the things he looks for are training errors, improper shoes or gait abnormalities such as heel striking. Dr. Brotzman’s goal is to ensure that, at the end of treatment, patients not only feel better but have a better training regimen. “This type of hands-on, team approach to treating lower extremity injuries in athletes is quite rare,” Dr. Brotzman says.
A guiding principle of Dr. Brotzman’s practice is that for many procedures, such as ACL surgery of the knee, proper rehabilitation is as critical as wellperformed surgery for full treatment and recovery. “Many surgeons do a beautiful surgical procedure,” he explains, “but either don’t read up on the important progression of the patient’s post-op rehab or just are not interested in that area and turn rehab over to the physical therapist with very little input or interface regarding the progression.” Dr. Brotzman is board certified in orthopedic surgery. He received his MD from Baylor College of Medicine in Houston. He completed his internship at St. Joseph’s Hospital in Houston and a residency in orthopedic surgery at the Campbell Clinic at the University of Tennessee as well as a fellowship in lower extremities at the Campbell Clinic. Dr. Brotzman holds a BA in biology from the University of Texas at Austin. Dr. Brotzman feels that many athletes are more comfortable entrusting their sports medicine and orthopedic needs to someone who understands them, “Having played many sports over the years, I can relate to the mindset and goals of athletes as well as understand the biomechanical and physiological rigors involved with their sports.”
FOR MORE INFORMATION To learn more or to schedule an appointment, visit northaustinsportsmedicine.com, call 512-977-0000 or visit 12309 N. Mopac, Suite 150.