BEAR ACL Repair
What Is BEAR ACL Repair?
Bridge-Enhanced ACL Restoration, or BEAR, is a newer, FDA-approved alternative to traditional ACL reconstruction. Rather than removing the torn ACL and replacing it with a tendon graft, the BEAR technique preserves the patient’s own torn ligament and uses a specialized implant to help bridge the gap and stimulate the body’s own healing response — allowing the native ACL to heal itself.
When Is BEAR ACL Repair an Option?
ACL surgery is generally recommended for patients who:
- Experience knee buckling or instability during daily activity or sports
- Wish to return to cutting, pivoting, or jumping sports
- Work physically demanding jobs that require a stable knee on uneven ground
- Have torn other knee ligaments in addition to the ACL
- Have completed physical therapy but continue to have episodes of the knee giving way
Not everyone with a torn ACL needs surgery — older or less active patients who are willing to modify their activities may do well with a structured nonsurgical rehabilitation program instead.
How Is BEAR ACL Repair Performed?
The procedure is done arthroscopically, similar in setting to a traditional ACL reconstruction. Instead of harvesting a tendon graft, the surgeon places a specialized collagen-based implant between the torn ends of the ACL. This implant is combined with a small amount of the patient’s own blood, which is injected into the device to stimulate healing factors. The implant acts as a scaffold, allowing the patient’s own torn ligament fibers to grow across the gap and reconnect, rather than being replaced by outside tissue.
BEAR Repair vs. Traditional ACL Reconstruction
The central difference between these two approaches is preservation versus replacement. Reconstruction removes the torn ACL entirely and substitutes a graft from tendon tissue, while BEAR repair preserves the patient’s own ligament and encourages it to heal in place. Because BEAR doesn’t require harvesting a graft from elsewhere in the leg, some patients experience less donor-site discomfort during early recovery. Long-term studies continue to compare outcomes between the two techniques, and candidacy for BEAR depends on the specific pattern of the tear.
Coast your way to recovery
Dr. Palsis utilizes innovative treatment techniques to get you back in motion and back to the life you love.
Recovery After BEAR ACL Repair
Recovery follows a similar overall arc to traditional ACL reconstruction:
- Early range-of-motion exercises and physical therapy begin soon after surgery
- A brace and limited weight-bearing protect the healing ligament in the initial weeks
- Progressive strengthening continues over several months
- Return to cutting and pivoting sports typically follows a comparable timeline to traditional reconstruction, guided by strength testing and functional milestones rather than by a fixed calendar date
Get back to what moves you
Dr. Palsis specializes in the treatment of knee, shoulder, and sports injuries.