Force-Modulating Tissue Bridges in Sports Medicine Incision Management: A First 100-Case Experience Evaluating Allergic Reactions and Postoperative Complications

Objective Incisional tension is an important and recognized contributor to complications surrounding wound sites and suboptimal scarring after sports medicine interventions, especially in areas high in motion which could be subjected to early mobilization. Force modulating tissue bridges (FMTBs) are non-invasive devices that can offload mechanical tension at the wound site. We aimed to evaluate the safety, feasibility and preliminary clinical outcomes of FMTBs when used in ambulatory sports medicine setting. Methods A retrospective chart review of 100 consecutive outpatient sports medicine procedures was conducted. These procedures were performed by the same single surgeon and in these procedures FMTBs were used as the final component of layered wound closure between January 2023 and December 2025. Assessed outcomes included delayed healing, wound dehiscence, surgical site infections, medical adhesive-related skin reactions and interference of FMTBs with postoperative rehabilitation protocols that were standard. Results One hundred consecutive outpatient cases were identified: 91 knee, 4 shoulder, 3 elbow, and 2 ankle/Achilles procedures. Mean follow-up was 36.7 weeks, with 20% of cases exceeding one year. No instances of wound dehiscence, impaired healing, surgical site infection, allergic dermatitis, or medical adhesive-related skin injury were observed. Device adherence was maintained for ≥2 weeks in the majority of cases. There were two cases of early device detachment from the wound. In both cases, there were no clinical complications arising from the detachment. There was no interference with the rehabilitation process for either patient. Conclusions In this initial cohort of 100, FMTBs were seamlessly integrated into ambulatory sports medicine incision management practices with no disruption in standard rehabilitation protocols. The FMTBs were well-accepted from patients as well as the clinical staff. The results of this study provide a foundation for further comparative studies to examine FMTB effectiveness in terms of wound healing as well as scar formation.