From crash to comeback: A lived experience with negative pressure therapy
July 25, 2025 | Read time: 2 min
After Tommy Rodgers crashed during a high-speed mountain bike race, he became a patient of the advanced wound care solution he champions every day — Solventum™ Prevena™ Therapy.
Tommy, an acute care representative at Solventum, has always believed in the impact of our wound care technologies. But after a high-speed mountain bike accident, that belief transformed into something deeper.
He doesn’t remember what led to the accident, but Tommy recalls hitting the ground and hearing a crunch in his shoulder.
“I knew immediately I’d need surgery,” he says. “And I also knew exactly what I wanted used post-op: Prevena Therapy. I’ve seen what it does for patients. I wanted that same protection and healing for myself.”
Prevena Therapy is designed to proactively manage the environment of closed surgical incisions. Treatment includes dressings that create a barrier against external contamination. It also uses negative pressure to aid in in keeping incision sites together, and helps remove fluids and infections materials, reducing risk of edema. For Tommy, the difference it made was clear.
Thirteen years ago, when he had a similar injury to his other clavicle, his treatment didn’t include Prevena Therapy. This time, he noticed a huge change. “I was sleeping on my side the night after surgery. Days later, I was brushing my teeth and wearing pullovers again. Even though I’m older now, this recovery was easier for me.”
Now, Tommy shares his story with surgeons. “It’s not just clinical data anymore — it’s personal. I’ve lived the benefits.”
For Tommy, this experience reinforced why he does what he does. “Helping people heal? That’s powerful. That’s purpose.”
