Orthopedic Sports Medicine | Getting Mason Back To Playing
Source: https://www.gritman.org/mason-way-orthopedic-sports-medicine
Archived: 2026-04-23 17:12
Orthopedic Sports Medicine | Getting Mason Back To Playing
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Gritman Orthopedic Surgeon Dr. Leo Chough Helps Lewiston High Quarterback Safely Return to Field After Injury
Mason Way wasn’t going to let a thumb injury put an end to his senior season for the
Lewiston High Football Team
.
His return to the field was quicker and better than the young quarterback could have anticipated thanks to Gritman Orthopedic Surgeon
Dr. Leo Chough
and the team at Gritman Medical Center.
Way had just thrown the final ball of the Bengals’ inaugural game on a Friday night in August when he came down on another player’s arm who was trying to deflect the pass, clipping his thumb.
Leo Chough, M.D.
He didn’t think too much of the injury at first, but it festered, leading him to a doctor’s office the following Monday.
“The next week, we went to a doctor down here in Lewiston, and they told me it was fractured, and he said it was going to be the end of my season,” Way said.
Not willing to take “no” for an answer, Way and his parents talked to a friend who recommended Gritman’s Joint Commission-Certified Orthopedic Program and the expertise of Dr. Chough.
“I feel back to normal, 100 percent. It was surreal being back after being told my season was going to be over, and just being back on the field, it was great.” – Mason Way, Lewiston High School Quarterback, patient of
Gritman Orthopedic Surgeon Dr. Leo Chough
.
Way had an appointment less than 24 hours later, and Dr. Chough informed him he could undergo surgery and rehabilitation in time to properly finish his season for the Bengals.
“He was very thoughtful, and he told me he was going to work his hardest to get me back to playing,” Way said.
Not only was Dr. Chough willing to perform the surgery, but he also wanted to work with Way on a rehabilitation program that would get him back quickly and playing at the same level as before.
“He was just mindful of trying to get me back as quickly as I can but also being safe and being back at 100 percent, so he gave me a timeline of being back for Senior Night, which was the first game he had planned out for me to be able to play.”
Surgery was scheduled one day after his first consultation with Dr. Chough, with four screws surgically inserted into Way’s right thumb. Way was admitted to Gritman Medical Center around noon and was discharged the same day after undergoing anesthesia and the procedure with the
Same-Day Surgery
team.
Mason Way
In addition to the swiftness of the surgery, Way said he felt comfortable by the competence and professionalism of his surgery team – everyone appeared both confident and welcoming as they ushered him through the process.
“Everyone was very friendly, just super nice, and I felt comfortable, welcomed,” Way said.
The surgery included a hard cast that Way had to work around for about a week while rehabbing with Lewiston High School’s Athletic Training staff, then a splint he could take on and off so he could get movement back in his thumb.
Dr. Chough checked in with Way and his family throughout his rehab and soon cleared him to practice with the team – stopping by practice to watch Way’s movements and conversing with his coaches and trainers to ensure he could safely return to the field.
“He told me he was happy for me that I was getting back to playing,” Way said. “He was excited.”
Dr. Chough attended that Senior Night game that served as Way’s return. The Bengals pulling off a win made Way feel pretty good, too. Way later helped his teammates win a District Championship, Lewiston High’s first in nine years, and was part of the team that pushed themselves to overtime in the first round of the playoffs, losing by just 1 point.
Learn More About Gritman’s Joint Commission-Certified Orthopedic Program
The ordeal was Way’s first surgery after a lifetime of playing football and basketball. Raised in Lewiston, Way and his family have always been athletic and drawn to the team atmosphere that comes with competing and following in his older brothers’ footsteps.
“I mean, I just love the camaraderie of the team and the energy. Nothing beats it,” the four-year player said. “You pretty much build a family with your teammates.”
Instead of being out for three months, Dr. Chough and the team at Gritman were able to get him back to playing in about 6 weeks, giving Way playing time and the memories that come during a senior season.
“I feel back to normal, 100 percent,” Way said following the season. “It was surreal being back after being told my season was going to be over, and just being back on the field, it was great.”
Gritman Orthopedic Surgeons operates from the Gritman Medical Park, 2301 W. A St., Moscow. Learn more at
gritman.org/orthopedic
.
Learn More About Gritman’s Orthopedic Program
Subscribe to Gritman Email Newsletter
Watch Mason Way’s Story
Return to Newsroom
Gritman Orthopedic Surgeon Dr. Leo Chough Helps Lewiston High Quarterback Safely Return to Field After Injury
Mason Way wasn’t going to let a thumb injury put an end to his senior season for the
Lewiston High Football Team
.
His return to the field was quicker and better than the young quarterback could have anticipated thanks to Gritman Orthopedic Surgeon
Dr. Leo Chough
and the team at Gritman Medical Center.
Way had just thrown the final ball of the Bengals’ inaugural game on a Friday night in August when he came down on another player’s arm who was trying to deflect the pass, clipping his thumb.
Leo Chough, M.D.
He didn’t think too much of the injury at first, but it festered, leading him to a doctor’s office the following Monday.
“The next week, we went to a doctor down here in Lewiston, and they told me it was fractured, and he said it was going to be the end of my season,” Way said.
Not willing to take “no” for an answer, Way and his parents talked to a friend who recommended Gritman’s Joint Commission-Certified Orthopedic Program and the expertise of Dr. Chough.
“I feel back to normal, 100 percent. It was surreal being back after being told my season was going to be over, and just being back on the field, it was great.” – Mason Way, Lewiston High School Quarterback, patient of
Gritman Orthopedic Surgeon Dr. Leo Chough
.
Way had an appointment less than 24 hours later, and Dr. Chough informed him he could undergo surgery and rehabilitation in time to properly finish his season for the Bengals.
“He was very thoughtful, and he told me he was going to work his hardest to get me back to playing,” Way said.
Not only was Dr. Chough willing to perform the surgery, but he also wanted to work with Way on a rehabilitation program that would get him back quickly and playing at the same level as before.
“He was just mindful of trying to get me back as quickly as I can but also being safe and being back at 100 percent, so he gave me a timeline of being back for Senior Night, which was the first game he had planned out for me to be able to play.”
Surgery was scheduled one day after his first consultation with Dr. Chough, with four screws surgically inserted into Way’s right thumb. Way was admitted to Gritman Medical Center around noon and was discharged the same day after undergoing anesthesia and the procedure with the
Same-Day Surgery
team.
Mason Way
In addition to the swiftness of the surgery, Way said he felt comfortable by the competence and professionalism of his surgery team – everyone appeared both confident and welcoming as they ushered him through the process.
“Everyone was very friendly, just super nice, and I felt comfortable, welcomed,” Way said.
The surgery included a hard cast that Way had to work around for about a week while rehabbing with Lewiston High School’s Athletic Training staff, then a splint he could take on and off so he could get movement back in his thumb.
Dr. Chough checked in with Way and his family throughout his rehab and soon cleared him to practice with the team – stopping by practice to watch Way’s movements and conversing with his coaches and trainers to ensure he could safely return to the field.
“He told me he was happy for me that I was getting back to playing,” Way said. “He was excited.”
Dr. Chough attended that Senior Night game that served as Way’s return. The Bengals pulling off a win made Way feel pretty good, too. Way later helped his teammates win a District Championship, Lewiston High’s first in nine years, and was part of the team that pushed themselves to overtime in the first round of the playoffs, losing by just 1 point.
Learn More About Gritman’s Joint Commission-Certified Orthopedic Program
The ordeal was Way’s first surgery after a lifetime of playing football and basketball. Raised in Lewiston, Way and his family have always been athletic and drawn to the team atmosphere that comes with competing and following in his older brothers’ footsteps.
“I mean, I just love the camaraderie of the team and the energy. Nothing beats it,” the four-year player said. “You pretty much build a family with your teammates.”
Instead of being out for three months, Dr. Chough and the team at Gritman were able to get him back to playing in about 6 weeks, giving Way playing time and the memories that come during a senior season.
“I feel back to normal, 100 percent,” Way said following the season. “It was surreal being back after being told my season was going to be over, and just being back on the field, it was great.”
Gritman Orthopedic Surgeons operates from the Gritman Medical Park, 2301 W. A St., Moscow. Learn more at
gritman.org/orthopedic
.
Learn More About Gritman’s Orthopedic Program
Subscribe to Gritman Email Newsletter
Watch Mason Way’s Story