CARSON, Calif. (February 2, 2008) - U.S. midfielder Aly Wagner underwent a double sports hernia surgery on January 30 at Columbia - St. Mary’s Ozaukee Hospital in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Dr. Richard Cattey preformed the procedure which repaired a large tear on her right side and incomplete tear on the left.

“Dr. Cattey said it was exactly what he suspected, everything went according to plan and that it was a routine repair,” said Wagner, who has played 117 times for the USA. “I’m relieved to finally have a remedy for the chronic groin injuries I played through this past year. I will be excited to get back to training hard again.”

The surgery involves inserting piece of synthetic mesh where the muscle inserts into the pelvic bone in order to reinforce the muscle, attaching it to the bone with titanium staples and allowing the muscle to grow through the mesh.

“Dr. Cottey was great,” said Wagner, who was restricted to just 58 minutes of action in the 2007 Women’s World Cup due to injuries. “He was thorough, attentive and it was the best hospital experience and surgery I’ve ever had, and I’ve had a few. I really appreciate how I was treated.”

Wagner will be restricted to walking for two weeks, following by some jogging, swimming and elliptical training according to how she feels. She could be back kicking a soccer ball in a month. The surgery is more commonly preformed on male athletes, but the injury is increasingly occurring in female athletes as well.