For the second season in a row, Alabama quarterback Tua Tagovailoa underwent a "tightrope procedure" for an ankle injury, this time for his right ankle.

Technically speaking, the procedure is called the Knotless Syndesmosis TightRope Implant System.

Tagovailoa got the procedure after suffering a high ankle sprain in the first half of the Crimson Tide's 35-13 win over Tennessee Saturday. 

The junior quarterback underwent the same procedure last season after injuring his left ankle during the SEC Championship Game against Georgia. 

In a 2017 interview with Arthrex, Norman Waldrop — one of Alabama's team surgeons last year — said the TightRope surgery allows a medical staff to avoid any complications with screws.

"Sometimes screws can be an issue," Waldrop said in the interview with Arthrex. "If you're using screws, it can overconstrain the joint, the screws can break. With the TightRope you don't have to worry about any of that."

Waldrop also mentioned the procedure helped him get athletes back in action "quicker."

Waldrop said the medical staff will try control swelling for the first four days after surgery. 

After that, he says they will work with athletes to start walking on the fourth and fifth day, before attempting running by the eight and ninth day. He then will work with athletes on cutting shortly after. 

Overall, he normally tells patients "it will take them three or four weeks to return."

TightRope works by using high strength suture, instead of traditional metal screws, to treat a patient with a syndesmosis joint injury. The suture is pushed and secured between two metallic buttons placed against the tibia and fibula at the ankle, with or without associated fractures, according to Peter Denove, senior director of distal extremities product management at Arthrex. 

This procedure doesn't fix a fracture, he added, but instead heals the soft tissues associated with a fracture or high ankle sprain.

Once the sutures are in place, they can provide a patient with more stability and shorter rehab time, and help them regain normal motion of the ankle. Unlike screws, sutures can stay in the body indefinitely without a chance of breaking. 

The procedure usually takes no more than an hour. Orthopedic surgeon Dr. Lyle Cain covers the incision with an Arthrex product called Jumpstart Antimicrobial wound dressing. It uses electrical current to assist with wound healing.  

TightRope was invented by Dr. Brian Thornes, an Irish surgeon who brought the product to Arthrex in 2002. It has been used in the U.S. since 2005.

As for Tagovailoa, Alabama head coach Nick Saban said he would miss next week's game against Arkansas, but didn't offer much more than that.

"Tua Tagovailoa suffered a high-ankle sprain last night against Tennessee. Our physicians performed a successful tightrope procedure on his right ankle this morning," head coach Nick Saban announced in a statement Sunday morning. "This is the same injury, but the opposite ankle that Tua injured last season. Tua will miss next week’s game against Arkansas, but we expect a full and speedy recovery.”

However, the team is hopeful he could be available after their bye week in a potential top-three matchup against No. 3 LSU on Nov. 9.

USA Today reporter Paul Myerberg contributed to this report.