Nicholas Pohorilenko, a rising high school senior from Bucks County, had his high school football career saved by a new piece of medical technology, reports Stephanie Stahl and Brad Nau for CBS News. 

Two years ago, the Council Rock South High School tight end tore his ACL when another player’s helmet collided with his knee.  

Pohorilenko and his family met with Dr. Sommer Hammoud of Rothman Orthopedics for Nicholas’ surgery. Dr. Hammoud utilized a new form of technology to reduce the chance of a re-rupture in the future.  

“Our young athletes who, in general, have the highest rate of ACL injury also, unfortunately, come with the highest rates of re-rupture,” she said. 

The device acts as a “seatbelt,” providing additional support to the graft. The seatbelt functions like a brace and keeps the graft from overstretching.  

“I think this is the simplest thing that one can add to a ligament repair or reconstruction that is likely gonna have a huge potential benefit to the patient,” Dr. Hammoud said.  

Pohorilenko has since recovered from the surgery after extensive rehab. The tight end is happy to be returning to the field for his senior year.  

Doctors aren’t sure how effective the seatbelt is yet, but it appears to be a promising new technology.

Learn more about this ACL “seatbelt,” Nicholas Pohorilenko’s recovery and what it could mean for young athletes in CBS News.  

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