EP 6 - THE ACL EPIDEMIC - WITH ASTHON HEWITT AND MR STUART ROY; TRAUMA AND ORTHOPAEDIC CONSULTANT

Ffion and Gwen are joined by Dragons professional rugby player Ashton Hewitt and Trauma and Orthopaedics Consultant, Mr Stuart Roy.

Newport born Ashton, has grown his rugby career through an academy programme all the way to international honours. Unfortunately, he has experienced 2 ACL injuries, one in 2021(MCL and ACL) and one in 2023 (LCL and ACL). He is currently rehabilitating his current ACL injury in the hope to return to rugby at the end of the year. 

Stuart was appointed as a consultant in Trauma and Orthopaedics at the Royal Glamorgan Hospital in July, 2005. He has a full-time NHS contract and specialises in sports injuries and all aspects of knee surgery. He has been clinical director and is currently Audit lead for his department. Stuart himself has experienced an ACL injury during his rugby career, so has a lot of empathy and understanding for his patients. 

During this episode, expect to learn about the mechanisms of ACL injuries, the difference in risk between males and females and all different graph options for this level of surgery. It is clear that there needs to be more research into the increase of ACL injuries and the girls discuss all different forms of preventative measures that need to be implemented in sport. Due to the massive rise in these extremely horrific injuries, and with Ffion and Gwen experiencing these themselves, we hope this episode provides some insight into the severity of this injury.

@ashton_hewitt - https://www.instagram.com/ashton_hewitt/?hl=en-gb

Stuart Roy: Contact info - https://www.spirehealthcare.com/consultant-profiles/mr-stuart-roy-c3657254/