ACL reconstruction surgery: Helayna’s story

Helayna’s story

Helayna Douglas is a professional football player from Glasgow. She has been passionate about football for as long as she can remember, having first played as a young girl against her dad, with two mini goal posts in her back garden.

This hobby led to Helayna joining the local boys' football team on Sundays, where she was scouted by Celtic coaches and asked to join a professional girls' team.

Shortly after being signed by the Celtic Under 19 Squad and embarking upon her dream career, Helayna tore her anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) during a tournament in Edinburgh. The incident happened when she turned around quickly and caught her studded boots in the Astroturf, which put pressure on her ACL, causing it to rupture. Not only was Helayna in immediate pain from the incident, but she also felt extreme panic about the future of her career at that moment.

"Football means so much to me because it's the majority of my life. When the accident happened, I was thinking things like, will I ever play again? Will I ever play as well again? If I ever do play again, how long will I be out playing for?" - Helayna Douglas

What is a torn ACL?

Your ACL is a tough band of tissue in your knee joint that joins your thigh bone to your shin bone. It runs diagonally through the inside of your knee, helping control the back-and-forth movement of your lower leg and stabilise your knee joint. Your ACL can be torn in many ways, but it is most often damaged due to a sudden twisting movement that happens during sporting activity, such as the movement that caused Helayna's ACL to tear.

If you rupture your ACL, you might struggle to put weight on your knee, or hear and feel a distinct 'popping' sensation. It can be very painful, and twisting or turning your knee after the accident can feel impossible. ACL reconstruction surgery is needed to repair a damaged ACL (it can be managed, but not cured, with physiotherapy and medication) helping people regain strength and mobility in their knee and return to the sport and activity they love.

Deciding to have ACL reconstruction surgery

As mentioned above, ACL reconstruction surgery is needed to repair a torn ACL. Your decision to have the surgery will depend on the damage to your knee.

Getting help at Ross Hall Hospital

Helayna immediately researched treatment for private ACL reconstruction surgery and discovered the InternalBrace^TM procedure performed by Professor Gordon MacKay at Ross Hall Hospital.

InternalBrace^TM surgery with Professor Gordon Mackay

The InternalBrace^TM is an innovative surgical method for ligament repair and reconstruction. The procedure (also referred to as suture tape augmentation) involves a different approach to traditional ACL reconstruction surgery by using an internal brace made of biocompatible polymer.

This is attached alongside your ligament (or the graft tissue it is replaced with), acting as a protective shield, helping the damaged tissue around your ligament heal and regenerate as quickly as possible. As you recover from surgery, your ligament will grow through the structure of the brace, which acts as a scaffold when you exercise and carry out everyday movements.

During the procedure, your consultant will drill holes in your tibia (shin) and femur (hamstring) to repair your torn ligament and attach the InternalBrace^TM. This brace acts as a protective shield, helping the damaged tissue around your ligament heal and regenerate as quickly as possible. As you recover from surgery, your ligament will grow through the structure of the brace, which acts as a scaffold when you exercise and carry out everyday movements.

"Working with Professor Mackay was a very positive experience. He was so reassuring and nice to work with. He made me feel better about my recovery as soon as I met him. I had surgery a month and a half after first contacting Ross Hall." - Helayna Douglas

Benefits of the InternalBrace™ procedure

The key benefit of the InternalBrace^TM is that it allows you to regain function in your knee faster than with traditional ACL repair surgery. It allows for a rapid recovery time, helping you return to the activities you are most passionate about quickly. Many people who have had the surgery report less pain, swelling, and muscle wasting compared with traditional surgery. Professor Mackay has fitted an InternalBrace^TM on many athletes and professional sportsmen and women, restoring mobility in their knees and allowing them to get back in the game as soon as possible.

"The stages of recovery for me were really quick. After the second day post-op, I was able to walk without my crutches or help. I was able to run - although it was more like a light jog - a couple of months after surgery, which was amazing for me. Everything moved really quickly, and now I'm back to running and football. I'm not back to 11 side games just yet, but will be soon." - Helayna Douglas

Helayna has made a fantastic recovery and is back running and playing football. She would recommend ACL reconstruction surgery with an InternalBrace^TM to any athletes who want to get back into sport as quickly and safely as possible.

Scroll down to watch Helayna talk more about her story.

ACL reconstruction surgery at Ross Hall Hospital

When you choose to go private with Ross Hall Hospital for ACL reconstruction surgery, you can expect:

• Flexible appointment times and locations to fit your routine
• The freedom to choose which consultant suits your personal needs
• Personalised, consultant-led treatment plans tailored to you
• Comfortable and safe private facilities maintained by expert multidisciplinary teams
• Support from the same compassionate clinical team from beginning to end
• Affordable, fixed-price packages with aftercare included
• Flexible payment options to spread the cost of your treatment

If you would like to learn more about this procedure, book your appointment online today or call a member of our team directly.