A New ACL Repair Option Has Arrived!
Most of us, if not all, know what it means to tear your ACL (anterior cruciate ligament). If you don’t, the ACL provides considerable stability to our knees and, when torn, that gets compromised. It usually gets torn during sports involving changes in direction and often are not related to contact from someone else. Though not incredibly common, 250,000 people rupture their ACL per year–still a fair amount of people!
Historically, ACLs have been reconstructed either using a tissue graft from one of your tendons or a cadaver. And, if you had to recover from one, it could take at least 8 months before getting cleared to return to your sport (plus or minus 1 month). Not a quick return at all! However, there could be a new sheriff in town: the BEAR (not the show on Hulu for all you jokesters!)
As the traditional reconstruction surgery has some negative ramifications, such as increased risk of osteoarthritis and re-injury, the BEAR (Bridge-Enhanced ACL Repair) approach, which focuses on RESTORATION and not reconstruction of the torn ACL, may offer better outcomes. Though it is a recent approach, studies have shown that the BEAR approach led to improved hamstring strength 2 years later along with less knee laxity and improved self-reported outcomes compared to the traditional approach.
Do we know for sure if the BEAR is the best choice after an ACL tear? No. However, anecdotally, I’ve seen these patients certainly have better short term reductions in pain and return to functional activities like walking and going up/down stairs. Couple that with improved long-term outcomes, it seems promising, folks!
References:
NYC Orthopedic Surgeon Jonathan Glashow M.D. Performs Novel, Groundbreaking ACL Restoration Procedure: Miach Orthopaedics' BEAR® (Bridge Enhanced ACL Restoration) procedure is a new, less-invasive medical advancement, enabling the body to heal its own torn ACL. The very first commercial surgical case was performed in the United States by Jonathan L. Glashow M.D. on October 5th, 2021, in NYC. PR Newswire Nov 30 , 2021. https://www.proquest.com/wire-feeds/nyc-orthopedic-surgeon-jonathan-glashow-m-d/docview/2604444139/se-2
Murray MM, Kalish LA, Fleming BC, et al. Bridge-Enhanced Anterior Cruciate Ligament Repair: Two-Year Results of a First-in-Human Study. Orthop J Sport Med. 2019;7(3):232596711882435. doi:10.1177/2325967118824356