Considering ACL Surgery? Parents Share Why They Chose the BEAR Implant
Nothing prepares you for hearing that your child has torn the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in their knee. As a parent, you’re suddenly thrust into a world of treatment options, surgical decisions, and recovery timelines—all while trying to do what’s best for your child. In moments like these, medical expertise is important, but there’s another voice that can be just as powerful: other parents who’ve been in your shoes. If you’re exploring ACL treatment options for your child, their experiences might be exactly what you need to hear.
In this post, you’ll hear directly from families on why they chose the BEAR® Implant—an innovative option that helps the body heal its own ACL. But first, a little about ACL tears and the BEAR Implant.
A Growing Youth Sports Injury
ACL tears in the knee have steadily increased among 6- to 18-year-olds in the U.S. The rate of ACL injuries in children has risen more than 2% a year over the last two decades as participation in youth sports has increased. Most torn ACLs will not heal on their own and require surgery in order to return to sports.
Many ACL Surgical Approaches
Sorting through the various surgical approaches can be overwhelming, especially when each one comes with its own risks, benefits and unknowns. ACL reconstruction (ACLR), which involves replacing the ACL with a graft, is the most commonly used surgery for anyone with an ACL tear; however, it is often a much more complicated procedure in a growing child than in an adult because of their open growth plates (areas of cartilage located at the ends of the femur and tibia that play a critical role in bone growth). For that reason, an increasing number of pediatric surgeons are opting for ACL restoration with the BEAR Implant, which works with a child’s body as the musculoskeletal system continues to develop, without disturbing open growth plates. To date, more than 1,600 patients under the age of 18 have been treated with the BEAR Implant, including as young as 3.
Learn more about surgical options for ACL tears.
A Natural Option for Growing Kids
The BEAR Implant enables the body to heal its own torn ACL and restores the natural function of the knee. When the BEAR Implant was first approved by the U.S. Food & Drug Admintration (FDA) in 2020, patients had to be at least 14 and done growing or “skeletally mature.” In March 2025, the FDA approved an expanded indication for the BEAR Implant to treat ACL tears in children and adolescents of any age, as well as to treat partial ACL tears.
Learn more about how the BEAR Implant works.
Learn more about the other benefits of restoring the ACL.
BEARents Perspectives
We spoke with five “BEARents,” or parents of children who have received the BEAR Implant, to share insight on why they chose the implant.
Liska Conboy’s son, Kyle, received the BEAR Implant at age 12 in 2023 and returned to competitive swimming at 9 months post-surgery.
“Due to Kyle’s age, we knew our options for ACL surgery were limited since he still had open growth plates. Ultimately, we chose the BEAR Implant because it allowed him to heal his own ACL, only required one surgical site and would give Kyle the opportunity to protect the long-term health of his knee.”
Catie DiFelice’s daughter, Payton Tapia, received the BEAR Implant on her left knee at age 12 in 2023 and then on her right knee at age 14 in 2025. She returned to soccer at 9 months post-surgery for the first injury and is currently in rehab for the second.
“I’m a researcher at heart, and after I found out the BEAR Implant was an option for Payton, I researched everything I could about it. What stood out to me the most was the ability to repair her own ACL without having to take a graft from another part of her body and the potential to minimize the risk of osteoarthritis. Weighing both options, it seemed like a no brainer to choose the BEAR Implant over ACLR.”
Chelle Marcella’s son, Joey, received the BEAR Implant at age 8 in 2023 and returned to football at 9 months post-surgery.
“I’m a former Olympic gymnast and very familiar with sports injuries. My husband and I were very concerned about the idea of interfering with the growth plates with ACLR. We wanted a less intense surgical option since Joey was only 8 years old at the time. We chose the BEAR Implant because it would allow him to preserve his growth plates, limit the amount of intrusive surgery, and give him the opportunity to continue his growth and return to living his life in a normal fashion.”
Lou Monik’s son, Sawyer, received the BEAR Implant at age 13 in 2023 and returned to football at 10 months post-surgery.
“We chose the BEAR Implant because Sawyer was so young, and it was a less invasive surgery. The healing time was comparable to ACLR. We felt it would be a better option long-term because it allowed you to heal the ligament versus trying to replace it.”
Charlie Roberts’ son, Walker, received the BEAR Implant at age 13 in 2022 and returned to soccer nine months post-surgery.
“We were most concerned about what we could do to ensure the best recovery to get Walker back to playing soccer. We thought it was cool that the BEAR Implant would help him heal his own ACL and we also liked that it was less invasive compared to traditional ACL surgery since Walker was so young.”
The BEAR Implant is available across the U.S. If you’re a parent considering the ACL restoration to treat your child’s ACL tear, learn more about the BEAR Implant, read patient success stories or find a surgeon in your area.
Learn more about the BEAR Implant
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-1320 Rev A 07/2025