Tightrope device leads to quicker recovery times for athletes

Richard De Asla, an orthopedic surgeon who works at multiple hospitals in Naples, is fascinated by new technologies. There is one device that has recently captured his attention, which he calls a “clever innovation.”

Dr. Asla is talking about the “Tightrope” device. It was developed at Arthrex, an orthopedic medical device company in Naples.

The technology is an implant system that treats ankle sprains, the injury that took University of Alabama quarterback Tuanigamanuolepola “Tua” Tagovailoa – who is playing in the college football national championship game on Monday night against Clemson University – off the field late last year.

“I thought it best for the team that I didn’t go back in,” said Tagovailoa, until his medical team mended his wound with the Tightrope. It leads to a quicker recovery than the traditional method involving plates and screws.

It is a simple procedure that can be done in less than 30 minutes, which put players like Tagovailoa back into the field swiftly.

“I think some of these guys have been practicing in 10-15 days and then back in a month,” said Pete Denove, who helped create the medical device. “That wouldn’t happen with metal screw fixation.”