Patient Stories

The legacy of college football in South Bend is unrivaled. Since the program’s first season in 1887, the team has won 11 national championships, and its players have claimed seven Heisman Trophies.

Now, many believe starting quarterback Riley Leonard is a candidate for the eighth one – even after a high ankle sprain that caused him to miss several games last season.

“I am so excited to be a part of this squad,” Riley said, after transferring from Duke University to the University of Notre Dame in January 2024. “I am back to 100%. My right ankle is stronger and more mobile than it’s ever been.”

Ironically, Riley was injured during the 2023 football season while playing against his current team.

“You break it, you buy it,” Riley laughed. “It is ironic that I now play for the team that injured me. It’s all good. I am so grateful for how this team has embraced me.”

“The dynamic fixation provided by the Syndesmosis TightRope^® XP implant system is unrivaled,¹” said Thomas Bemenderfer, MD (South Bend, Indiana) with South Bend Orthopaedics, which has served as the official team physicians for Notre Dame since 1949. Dr. Bemenderfer — who played football at Notre Dame — operated on Riley in April 2024, implanting an Arthrex TightRope XP in conjunction with a fracture plate, Dr. Bemenderfer says nothing should hold Riley back.

“He was walking within a couple of weeks and continues to excel beyond all expectations; he is a great example of our athletes who get back so quickly,” he said. “This repair is flexible; it allows motion where there should be motion and it’s stable where the ankle needs to be stable.”¹

Riley says his strong faith and his trust in the procedure and his team of trainers kept him optimistic throughout the recovery process.

“I know I was in excellent hands, and I feel great,” Riley said. “There may be people who underestimate my legs, but that’s even better for me. I can prove them wrong. I am running the fastest I ever have, and I can’t wait for what lies ahead.”

Disclaimers:

This is not medical advice and is not meant to be a substitute for the advice provided by a surgeon or other qualified medical professional on the use of these products. You should talk with your physician or health care provider for more information about your health condition and whether Arthrex products might be appropriate for you. The surgeon who performs any surgical procedure is responsible for determining and using the appropriate techniques for surgical procedures on each individual patient. Arthrex recommends that surgeons be trained on the use of any particular product before using it in surgery. A surgeon must always rely on their own professional medical judgment when deciding whether to use a particular product when treating a particular patient. A surgeon must always refer to the package insert, product label, and/or directions for use before using any Arthrex product. Postoperative management is patient-specific and dependent on the treating professional’s assessment. Individual results will vary and not all patients will experience the same postoperative activity level or outcomes. Products may not be available in all markets because product availability is subject to the regulatory approvals and medical practices in individual markets. Please contact Arthrex if you have questions about the availability of products in your area.

This real patient was compensated for the time he took to share his experience.

References:

1. Grassi A, Samuelsson K, D'Hooghe P, et al. Dynamic stabilization of syndesmosis injuries reduces complications and reoperations as compared with screw fixation: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Am J Sports Med. 2020;48(4):1000-1013. doi:10.1177/0363546519849909

2. Dynamic Stabilization of Syndesmosis Injuries Reduces Complications and Reoperations as Compared With Screw Fixation: A Meta-analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials - PubMed (nih.gov)