Bridge-Enhanced ACL Repair vs ACL Reconstruction

NCT ID: NCT02664545

Last Updated: 2025-12-30

Study Results

Results available

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Basic Information

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Recruitment Status

ACTIVE_NOT_RECRUITING

Clinical Phase

NA

Total Enrollment

100 participants

Study Classification

INTERVENTIONAL

Study Start Date

2016-04-30

Study Completion Date

2028-05-31

Brief Summary

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The goal of this trial is to compare the efficacy of the Bridge-Enhanced Anterior Cruciate Ligament Repair (BEAR™) technique with the current method of treatment for anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries, ACL reconstruction.

Detailed Description

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Enrolled patients will be randomized to either the Bridge-Enhanced ACL Repair (BEAR) technique (new treatment) or an ACL reconstruction (current gold standard of treatment).

Conditions

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Anterior Cruciate Ligament Tear

Study Design

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Allocation Method

RANDOMIZED

Intervention Model

PARALLEL

Primary Study Purpose

TREATMENT

Blinding Strategy

TRIPLE

Participants Investigators Outcome Assessors

Study Groups

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Bridge-Enhanced ACL Repair (BEAR)

The BEAR technique involves surgically placing a sponge (the BEAR scaffold) between the torn ends of the ACL, providing a scaffold for the ligament ends to grow into.

Group Type EXPERIMENTAL

BEAR Scaffold

Intervention Type DEVICE

A sponge, or scaffold, which is surgically placed between the torn ligament ends and sutures are used to repair the torn anterior cruciate ligament.

Tendon Graft

ACL reconstruction is when a tendon graft (either two hamstring tendons from the back of the knee or bone-patellar tendon-bone graft from the front of the knee) is taken and used to replace the torn ACL.

Group Type ACTIVE_COMPARATOR

Tendon Graft

Intervention Type PROCEDURE

A graft of tendon (either two hamstring tendons from the back of the knee or bone-patellar tendon-bone graft from the front of the knee)

Interventions

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BEAR Scaffold

A sponge, or scaffold, which is surgically placed between the torn ligament ends and sutures are used to repair the torn anterior cruciate ligament.

Intervention Type DEVICE

Tendon Graft

A graft of tendon (either two hamstring tendons from the back of the knee or bone-patellar tendon-bone graft from the front of the knee)

Intervention Type PROCEDURE

Eligibility Criteria

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Inclusion Criteria

* Age: 14 to 35 years of age.
* Sex: Both male and female
* ACL: Complete tear
* Time from injury to surgery: ≤45 days
* MRI: ACL tissue present on pre-operative MRI - at least 50% of the ACL length must still be attached to the tibial plateau

Exclusion Criteria

* Prior surgery on affected knee
* Prior joint infection on affected knee
* Regular use of tobacco or nicotine
* Use of corticosteroid within last 3 months
* History of chemotherapy treatment
* History of sickle cell disease
* History of anaphylaxis
* Any condition that could affect healing or infection risk (Diabetes, inflammatory arthritis, etc)
* Operative posterolateral corner injury (LCL complete tear, Biceps femoris tendon avulsion, tear of the arcuate ligament, tear of the popliteus ligament)
* Grade III medial collateral ligament injury
* Complete patellar dislocation
* Known allergy to bovine, beef or cow products
Minimum Eligible Age

14 Years

Maximum Eligible Age

35 Years

Eligible Sex

ALL

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Sponsors

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Miach Orthopaedics

INDUSTRY

Sponsor Role lead

Responsible Party

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Responsibility Role SPONSOR

Principal Investigators

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Yi-Meng Yen, MD

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Boston Children's Hospital

Locations

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Boston Children's Hospital

Boston, Massachusetts, United States

Site Status

Countries

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United States

References

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Menghini D, Kaushal SG, Flannery SW, Ecklund K; BEAR Trial Team; Murray MM, Fleming BC, Kiapour AM, Proffen B, Sant N, Portilla G, Sanborn R, Freiberger C, Henderson R, Barnett S, Yen YM, Kramer DE, Micheli LJ. Changes in the Cross-Sectional Profile of Treated Anterior Cruciate Ligament Within 2 Years After Surgery. Orthop J Sports Med. 2022 Oct 14;10(10):23259671221127326. doi: 10.1177/23259671221127326. eCollection 2022 Oct.

Reference Type DERIVED
PMID: 36263311 (View on PubMed)

Sanborn RM, Badger GJ; BEAR Trial Team; Yen YM, Murray MM, Christino MA, Proffen B, Sant N, Barnett S, Fleming BC, Kramer DE, Micheli LJ. Psychological Readiness to Return to Sport at 6 Months Is Higher After Bridge-Enhanced ACL Restoration Than Autograft ACL Reconstruction: Results of a Prospective Randomized Clinical Trial. Orthop J Sports Med. 2022 Feb 9;10(2):23259671211070542. doi: 10.1177/23259671211070542. eCollection 2022 Feb.

Reference Type DERIVED
PMID: 35155707 (View on PubMed)

Barnett SC, Murray MM, Flannery SW; BEAR Trial Team; Menghini D, Fleming BC, Kiapour AM, Proffen B, Sant N, Portilla G, Sanborn R, Freiberger C, Henderson R, Ecklund K, Yen YM, Kramer D, Micheli L. ACL Size, but Not Signal Intensity, Is Influenced by Sex, Body Size, and Knee Anatomy. Orthop J Sports Med. 2021 Dec 17;9(12):23259671211063836. doi: 10.1177/23259671211063836. eCollection 2021 Dec.

Reference Type DERIVED
PMID: 34988237 (View on PubMed)

Barnett SC, Murray MM, Badger GJ; BEAR Trial Team; Yen YM, Kramer DE, Sanborn R, Kiapour A, Proffen B, Sant N, Fleming BC, Micheli LJ. Earlier Resolution of Symptoms and Return of Function After Bridge-Enhanced Anterior Cruciate Ligament Repair As Compared With Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction. Orthop J Sports Med. 2021 Nov 9;9(11):23259671211052530. doi: 10.1177/23259671211052530. eCollection 2021 Nov.

Reference Type DERIVED
PMID: 34778483 (View on PubMed)

Murray MM, Fleming BC, Badger GJ; BEAR Trial Team; Freiberger C, Henderson R, Barnett S, Kiapour A, Ecklund K, Proffen B, Sant N, Kramer DE, Micheli LJ, Yen YM. Bridge-Enhanced Anterior Cruciate Ligament Repair Is Not Inferior to Autograft Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction at 2 Years: Results of a Prospective Randomized Clinical Trial. Am J Sports Med. 2020 May;48(6):1305-1315. doi: 10.1177/0363546520913532. Epub 2020 Apr 16.

Reference Type DERIVED
PMID: 32298131 (View on PubMed)

Murray MM, Kiapour AM, Kalish LA, Ecklund K; BEAR Trial Team; Freiberger C, Henderson R, Kramer D, Micheli L, Yen YM, Fleming BC. Predictors of Healing Ligament Size and Magnetic Resonance Signal Intensity at 6 Months After Bridge-Enhanced Anterior Cruciate Ligament Repair. Am J Sports Med. 2019 May;47(6):1361-1369. doi: 10.1177/0363546519836087. Epub 2019 Apr 15.

Reference Type DERIVED
PMID: 30986359 (View on PubMed)

Provided Documents

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Document Type: Study Protocol

View Document

Document Type: Statistical Analysis Plan

View Document

Other Identifiers

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BEAR II TRIAL

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id