Miach Orthopaedics, Inc., developer of the BEAR® Implant for anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) restoration, today announced publication of new two-year results from the post-commercialization Bridge Registry, published in Knee Surgery, Sports Traumatology, Arthroscopy (KSSTA)(1) demonstrating low ACL retear rates and excellent patient-reported outcomes in real-world clinical practice. Publication coincides with the milestone of more than 10,000 patients treated with the BEAR Implant in the U.S. since commercial launch.
In the first 100 Bridge Registry patients followed for two years, the overall ACL retear rate was 5.6%, with no retears during the first postoperative year. Among patients treated using a modified surgical technique, the retear rate was 2.5%, compared to 8.0% with the original technique. Patient-reported outcomes demonstrated substantial and continued improvement in knee function: At two years, mean IKDC was 87.4, while KOOS scores were 94.7 for pain, 97.6 for activities of daily living, and 88.2 for sports and recreational function. The study authors reported that these improvements were clinically significant and meaningful, with postoperative scores exceeding established patient-acceptable symptom-state thresholds.
“These two-year outcomes reflect real-world use of the BEAR Implant after its commercial release, and they show low retear rates across a broader range of patients than the original trials studied,” said Jocelyn Wittstein, MD, lead author of the Bridge Registry two-year analysis. “The registry includes younger patients at high risk and older patients at lower risk. Seeing low rates of retear and continued improvement in patient-reported outcomes through two years gives surgeons greater confidence as they counsel patients and select candidates for ACL restoration.”
Clinical Experience Improves Outcomes
Miach Orthopaedics’ BEAR® Implant: Revolutionizing ACL Restoration
While the BEAR Implant itself has remained unchanged since commercial launch, the study documents how the BEAR Implant procedure has evolved through commercial experience. Surgeons have increasingly adopted modified approaches involving different fixation methods, stronger sutures and alternative suture patterns.
The BEAR Implant rehabilitation protocol has also evolved based on surgeon and physical therapist experience, with refinements designed to support healing while helping patients safely progress toward their functional goals. A central focus of the refined protocol is guiding each patient’s progression toward return to activity at a pace that supports the healing ligament. Most patients in the Bridge Registry who played sports before their injury returned to play, with 87.2% back in sport by two years, underscoring why a measured return matters.
“The Bridge Registry results are outstanding and provide real-world validation of the BEAR Implant procedure after commercial launch,” said Jamal Rushdy, president and chief executive officer of Miach Orthopaedics. “Combined with the experience of more than 10,000 patients, these data demonstrate the momentum we see with surgeon adoption. Miach is on a path to define the standard of care for joint preservation through ACL restoration.”