An anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tear is not only painful but triggers a series of critical decisions regarding treatment and recovery. If you decide to undergo surgery, the most crucial of these decisions is which surgical treatment to choose: ACL reconstruction, primary repair or ACL restoration with the BEAR® Implant.

During ACL reconstruction, an orthopedic surgeon removes the torn ACL and replaces it with a tissue graft from another part of your body (called an autograft) or a deceased donor (called an allograft). In primary repair, the surgeon places stitches in the injured portion of the ACL and uses an anchor to reattach it back to the bone where it tore away. The BEAR Implant serves as a bridge to restore your ACL using your own blood.

The BEAR Implant is the first new innovation in the treatment of ACL tears in more than 30 years and is different from other options because it helps the torn ends of your ACL heal back together. In clinical trials, the BEAR Implant was shown to be the same as ACL reconstruction two years after surgery in terms of overall knee stability, function and safety.

Benefits of restoring your own ACL with the BEAR Implant include:

1. Preserves your knee’s natural anatomy. The BEAR Implant restores your native ACL in its original anatomical location, enabling your knee joint to feel “normal” and to function more naturally.
2. Restores torn ACL quality and size similar to your non-injured ACL. Using MRI images, researchers have found that BEAR Implant-treated ACLs are the same size and thickness as the uninjured knee at two years after surgery.
3. Faster recovery of muscle strength. ACL reconstruction can result in persistent weakness at the location where the graft was taken. The BEAR Implant does not require a graft to be used and, therefore, it has been shown in clinical trials to result in faster recovery of muscle strength measured at 6 and 12 months after surgery.
4. Greater confidence in readiness to return to sport. Patients treated with the BEAR Implant in clinical trials reported earlier confidence in their readiness to return to sports than those who underwent ACL reconstruction, as measured at 6 months. Resuming sports or other strenuous activities is not recommended until at least 9 months to give the ACL time to fully heal.
5. Less pain. Patients treated with the BEAR Implant in clinical trials reported feeling better overall at 1 year after surgery than those who underwent ACL reconstruction.
6. Potential for fewer contralateral tears. Clinical trial data suggest that patients treated with the BEAR Implant may experience fewer ACL tears in their other leg – known as contralateral ACL tears – at two years.
7. No graft wounds or risks. The BEAR Implant has only one wound site, so you may recover more quickly than with ACL reconstruction where a graft is taken from another site on your body. There is also no risk of donor tissue disease transmission that comes with using a donor graft for ACL reconstruction.
8. Easier revision surgery, if needed. If you were to tear your ACL a second time, you would have the option of another BEAR Implant or ACL reconstruction.

More about ACL Tears

Your anterior cruciate ligament, or ACL, is one of the four ligaments within your knee connecting the femur to the tibia. It’s also one of the most commonly injured ligaments in the knee, especially among athletes.  

Unlike many other ligaments in the body, the ACL does not have the ability to heal on its own. A thick liquid – called synovial fluid – reduces friction between the bones when you move your knee. As important as this fluid is for proper knee function, it prevents the formation of blood clots that are critical for healing. As a result, ACL tears are often treated with surgery. The first innovation in ACL surgery in several decades is bridge-enhanced ACL restoration with the BEAR® Implant. 

How does the BEAR Implant work? 

The BEAR Implant works with your own blood to heal the torn ends of your ACL back together. During the procedure, the ACL surgeon adds your own blood to the BEAR Implant and inserts it between the torn ends of your ACL. The implant holds and protects the blood to allow the formation of a clot. Over the next eight weeks, the BEAR Implant is resorbed by your body and replaced with ACL tissue.  

Learn more about the BEAR Implant

Find a surgeon who offers the BEAR Implant or discuss the option with your orthopedic surgeon.

The BEAR Implant from Miach Orthopaedics was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in December 2020. It is indicated for adults, adolescents and children with a complete or partial rupture of the ACL, as confirmed by MRI. Patients must have an ACL stump attached to the tibia to construct the repair. Children with open physes must have sufficient bone in the femoral and tibial epiphyses on either side of the intended tunnel locations to avoid disruption of the growth plates.

It is important to follow the BEAR Implant physical therapy program. Your surgeon can explain the program details.

Be sure to discuss your individual symptoms, diagnosis and treatment with your surgeon. The BEAR Implant has the same potential medical/surgical complications as other orthopedic surgical procedures, including ACL reconstruction. These include the risk of re-tear, infection, knee pain, meniscus injury and limited range of motion.

Visit www.miachortho.com for complete product information, including Instructions for Use.  

ML-1074 Rev A 1/2023