Bridge-enhanced ACL repair (BEAR) is a new FDA-approved procedure that allows a torn ACL to heal itself. The BEAR procedure is accomplished by using a decellularized, bovine-derived, type I collagen implant that resorbs within 8 weeks of implantation.

When an ACL tear occurs, the synovial fluid in the knee joint prevents the ACL from healing normally. If these patients suffer from a dysfunctional unstable knee, they often require ACL reconstruction surgery, where the damaged portion of the ACL is replaced with a donor’s tendon or tissue from another part of their own body. While this method is standard and dependable, ACL reconstruction can result in persistent weakness at the location where the graft was taken. The BEAR Implant avoids having to use a graft and, therefore, it has been shown in some clinical trials to result in faster recovery of muscle strength measured at 6 and 12 months after surgery.

While the short-term results seem to be at least as good as the ACL reconstruction, the long-term results of the BEAR technique are still not known. One study found a 14 percent retear in the BEAR group compared to a 6 percent retear rate in the ACL group, but the difference was not statistically significant. Therefore, for those patients who prefer the “gold standard,” they may want to stick with a traditional ACL reconstruction. Nevertheless, since most failures in ACL reconstruction occur within the first year of the surgery, researchers are hopeful that this new technique will also prove the test of time and become the new standard of care for ACL injuries. Researchers are also excited that data suggests this technique may have a long-term advantage over the ACL reconstruction in reducing the risk of arthritis that develops from the injury.