Keith Baumgarten, MD, a surgeon at Orthopedic Institute in Sioux Falls, S.D., has become the first surgeon in the state to perform a procedure using a BEAR implant.
BEAR, an acronym for bridge-enhanced ACL repair, has several advantages for repairing torn ACLs, including reduced pain after surgery, less long-term discomfort and faster healing times, according to press release from the institute.
"Patients rightfully ask why there is a need for improvements in ACL surgery," Dr. Baumgarten said in the Nov. 21 release. "First, there is a real chance of reinjury to the ACL after traditional ACL surgical reconstruction. Second, long-term data reveals an increased risk for future knee osteoarthritis in patients that have had the traditional treatments for ACL injury. The BEAR implant attempts to address both of these concerns."