Bridge Enhanced ACL Reconstruction (BEAR) technique could be the next generation strategy for the treatment of anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries in patients. Every year, millions of, people suffer from ACL injuries and undergo ACL reconstruction surgery. Since the ends of a torn ACL do not reconnect, therefore during surgery they need to be replaced with the graft from patient's hamstring tendons. Although this surgical procedure is highly efficient but the retear rate is as high as 20%.
Moreover, almost 80% of these patients develop arthritis after 15-20 years of surgery. The new BEAR technique uses stitches and a bridging scaffold (a sponge injected with the patient's blood) to initiate healing in the torn ligaments. A comparison of characteristics of BEAR and ACL reconstruction surgery is shown in the table below: Although the safety of BEAR techniques are yet to be…
