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A Comparison of ACL Repair With BEAR Device vs. Autograft Patellar Tendon ACL Reconstruction
Sponsor: The Cleveland Clinic
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.
Official title: BEAR - MOON: A Two Arm Non-Inferiority Randomized Clinical Trial Comparing ACL Repair With BEAR Device vs. Autograft Patellar Tendon ACL Reconstruction
Key Details
Gender
All
Age Range
18 Years - 55 Years
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Enrollment
150
Start Date
2021-08-30
Completion Date
2027-12
Last Updated
2025-07-29
Healthy Volunteers
No
Conditions
Interventions
ACL Reconstruction (Bone Patellar Tendon Bone Graft)
Standard of care procedure Patellar Tendon Autograft ACL reconstruction, in which a bone-patellar tendon-bone graft from the front of the knee is taken to replace the torn ACL.
Bridge Enhanced ACL Restoration (BEAR)
The BEAR technique involves surgically placing a sponge (the BEAR implant) between the torn ends of the ACL, providing a sponge for the ligament ends to group into.
Locations (6)
University of Colorado
Boulder, Colorado, United States
TRIA Orthopaedics Center/ University of Minnesota
Bloomington, Minnesota, United States
Cleveland Clinic
Cleveland, Ohio, United States
Ohio State University
Columbus, Ohio, United States
University Orthopedics Institute/ Rhode Island Hospital
Providence, Rhode Island, United States
Vanderbilt University
Nashville, Tennessee, United States