University of Alabama at Birmingham
This is the first medical advancement allowing the body to repair its own ACL. Sports and Exercise Medicine is the first site in Alabama to offer a new procedure for ACL repair. The Bridge-Enhanced ACL Repair — also known as BEAR — is the first medical advancement allowing the body to repair its own ACL.
An ACL tear occurs when one of the strong bands of tissue that connects the femur to the tibia is sprained or torn. This injury often occurs while someone is playing sports. Prior to this procedure, a torn ACL would have been replaced with another tendon from the patient’s body or a tendon from a deceased donor. With this new implant, the device uses the patient’s own blood to heal itself. The implant holds and protects the blood that flows in the gap of the ACL and allows a natural clot to form.
“We are thrilled to be able to offer this innovative procedure to patients across the state of Alabama,” said Amit Momaya, M.D., chief of Sports Medicine and surgeon in the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery. “This provides an option to patients to preserve their own ACL tissue and may help retain strength in the knee and balance, which is often lost when a graft is harvested from their knee and the torn ACL is completely removed.”
With this procedure, the patient’s ACL is restored, and the implant can bridge the gap between the torn ends of the ACL. Within eight weeks, the implant is absorbed and replaced with cells, collagen and blood vessels from the patient’s body. The tissue continues to remodel and strengthen over time.
Momaya has been the medical monitor for a multi-center randomized controlled trial for the past several years to ensure its efficacy and safety.
UAB Sports and Exercise Medicine specializes in the evaluation, management, rehabilitation and prevention of injury and disorders in patients of all ages. They offer comprehensive care options for all sports- and exercise-related injuries, like ligament tears, cartilage or meniscus deterioration, and ACL injuries. To make an appointment, call (205) 930-BONE or visit uabmedicine.org.