A Comparison of ACL Repair With BEAR Device vs. Autograft Patellar Tendon ACL Reconstruction

Plain-language summary

This study is designed to evaluate bridge-enhanced ACL restoration (BEAR), a new surgical technique for repairing knees injured by a tear of the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) that promotes reattachment and healing of the ACL using a blood-enriched implant. BEAR will be compared to bone to patellar tendon to bone autograft (BPTB) reconstruction, a standard ACL surgical reconstruction technique that replaces a torn portion of the ACL with transplanted patellar tendon tissue, and thus requires additional invasive patellar tendon removal and reuse as a portion of the ACL surgery, in a two group randomized clinical trial (RCT) in which participants will have equal chance of receiving BEAR or BPTB reconstruction. The BEAR technique is FDA approved and involves surgically placing a sponge (the BEAR implant) between the torn ends of the ACL, providing an absorbable implant for the ligament ends to grow into. The investigators hypothesize that the ACL repair with BEAR technology will achieve results not appreciably worse than BPTB reconstruction, with a reduced burden of invasive surgery, when assessed over the first two post-operative years. Animal studies suggest BEAR may also ameliorate longer-term premature osteoarthritis of the knee, a common consequence of ACL reconstruction surgery. However, no human data yet support that, and this trial will conclude before such a benefit can be observed. All patients 18-55 years of age who are candidates for ACL surgery within 50 days of the ACL injury and who present to surgeons participating in the study will be offered participation in the trial. Patients will be randomized and will undergo specified rehabilitation protocols post-operatively with primary assessments of knee laxity and patient reported measures at 6 months, 1 year, and 2 years.

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