Health & Fitness
Pediatric Ortho Center Offers Less Invasive ACL Repair Option
The Pediatric Orthopedic Center offers a less invasive surgical option for torn ACLs for children as young as age 10
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A groundbreaking surgical solution for repairing anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tears in the knee, a common injury among young athletes, is offered at The Pediatric Orthopedic Center. The center is dedicated to treating children from infancy through their teenage years and became the pioneering pediatric orthopedic practice in the New York Tri-State region to introduce the BEAR® (Bridge-Enhanced® ACL Restoration) procedure for select pediatric patients. Additionally, the center stands among the earliest orthopedic practices in New Jersey to perform the procedure on patients of any age.
Dr. David Lin, speaking on behalf of the center, stated, “Developed by experts at Boston Children’s Hospital and recently endorsed by the FDA, BEAR restoration offers a less invasive alternative for repairing torn ACLs, delivering outcomes comparable to traditional, more invasive orthopedic reconstruction methods. Our orthopedic surgeons have undergone specialized training in this surgical technique, allowing us to extend its benefits to our pediatric patients across all our facilities. Given our practice’s focus on treating young athletes, who frequently experience ACL tears due to knee injuries involving twisting or pivoting, we are thrilled to introduce this cutting-edge treatment, even to patients as young as 10 years old. The BEAR technique significantly expands our treatment repertoire, enabling personalized care for this prevalent injury.”
Dr. Lin is currently accepting new patients who may qualify for ACL repair treatment.
BEAR vs. Traditional ACL Repair
The ACL, vital for stabilizing the knee joint, links the femur's end to the top of the tibia. In children, ACL tears can occur partially or fully due to sudden planting and twisting injuries or, less commonly, collision events during everyday play or in popular sports like soccer, lacrosse, football, hockey, basketball, or downhill skiing. Notably, female athletes exhibit a higher susceptibility to ACL tears compared to their male counterparts, attributed to various factors.
In the BEAR restoration procedure, the torn ACL is reattached rather than removed and excised. The orthopedic surgeon stitches the tear, restoring the ligament to its natural alignment. A bioengineered cylindrical sponge, composed of purified bovine collagen, is then placed over the repaired ligament and saturated with the patient’s blood. This implant fosters a conducive healing environment, stimulating tissue growth to reconnect and reattach the ligament to the bone. Importantly, BEAR poses no risk to the child’s growth plates, eliminating the possibility of growth deformities and enabling safe ACL repairs in young patients with developing bones.
Dr. Mark Rieger highlighted, “The BEAR procedure stands out for its minimally invasive nature, as we avoid harvesting tissue grafts from other parts of the patient’s knee for replacement. The collagen implant assumes this role, resulting in improved postoperative comfort for the patient. Importantly, BEAR surgery yields outcomes comparable to traditional ACL surgery, ensuring a high level of safety for pediatric patients.”
About The Pediatric Orthopedic Center
The Pediatric Orthopedic Center stands as New Jersey’s largest pediatric orthopedic practice and one of the nation’s largest private pediatric orthopedic practices, with offices situated in Cedar Knolls, Wayne, and Springfield. It remains the sole pediatric orthopedic practice in N.J. offering an urgent care center with extended evening and Saturday hours. Specializing in youth and adolescent sports, trauma, spine deformities, hip disorders, congenital defects, growth disturbances, and foot and ankle surgery, the practice boasts eight BC/BE and fellowship-trained pediatric orthopedists, a pediatric specialized foot and ankle specialist, and a nationally certified orthopedic physician assistant. For further details and to book an appointment with one of our physicians, visit pediatricorthopedics.com.
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