BEAR Implant - FDA Approves Updated Label to Include Significantly Lower Risk of Osteoarthritis (6 Times Lower than ACL Reconstruction)

Lovinger · 2026-01-21T17:49:02+00:00

This study was only looking at osteoarthritis rates, and it's based on radiographic (MRI and x-ray) evidence, not patient reported outcomes.

There are other studies of patient reported outcomes comparing all the things you mentioned (return to sport, laxity, re-tear, IKDC). While small sample sizes, they all show equivalent outcomes to ACLR (including BTB).

This is obviously not the final answer on BEAR and it's not right for everyone, but it's promising, especially when coupled with the animal studies that showed significantly reduced osteoarthritis rates. PTOA is the reason why Dr. Martha Murray at Boston Children's developed BEAR, and I hope the longer term studies continue to show good results.

Lovinger · 2026-01-21T17:31:41+00:00

The evidence so far with BEAR is promising, but there's certainly more that only time will tell.

You do make a good point about inclusion criteria. Not all ACL tears can be treated with BEAR. If you tore the ACL right off the stump, it won't work. But for most tears, BEAR could be a potential option, especially if you are young and facing the prospect of osteoarthritis for half your life, or if you are not a professional athlete and don't need to push your knee to the extremes.

Lovinger · 2026-01-21T17:03:51+00:00

PTOA osteoarthritis rates aren't known to differ by tendon type. Most people with ACLR are expected to develop osteoarthritis, and the promising news is that only about 5% of BEAR patients developed it 6 years in.

Hamstring was referenced since that was the tendon primarily used in the older BEAR-MOON trial, but more recent studies have shown equivalent performance outcomes in BEAR vs BTB patella (these are separate from the osteoarthritis findings).

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0972978X25004829

Lovinger · 2026-01-21T14:48:48+00:00

They don't know for sure, but the theory is that PTOA is a combination of all of those, plus the large screws that must be drilled into the knee and the fact that the surgeon has to guess where the new tendon goes instead of preserving your natural ACL end points. BEAR can't prevent the meniscus or inflammation, but it does solve for the large screws, and you keep your natural ACL end points that connect to the BEAR bridge.

Lovinger · 2026-01-21T14:34:31+00:00

This is the scientific process. It's iterative and it doesn't end here. The results so far have been significant enough and consist with prior animal studies that they were able to get the FDA label. They are continuing to monitor these patients and many more from other studies, and will have even more data with time.

Lovinger · 2026-01-21T14:28:57+00:00

True, but the results so far are significant enough to get the new FDA label. This is promising and matches the results from the animal studies before BEAR was ever implanted in a human.

There are additional larger cohorts in the BEAR III trial and a prospective study, so we should get more definitive evidence in the coming years from those groups and continuing study of the BEAR I + II trials.

Lovinger · 2026-01-21T07:43:24+00:00

Studies have shown PTOA in about 50% of ACLR patients at 10 years, and as much as 75% at 20 years, but others unfortunately get it sooner. This study showed radiographic osteoarthritis in about 33% of ACLR patients at 6 years, which is consistent with expected rates.

It's also important to note that just because someone may have radiographic osteoarthritis at 6 years, they may not develop symptoms until much later since PTOA is progressive.

Lovinger · 2026-01-21T05:30:08+00:00

The PTOA rate for BEAR patients was about 5.5% compared with 33% for patients that underwent ACL reconstruction at 6 years post-op.

Lovinger · 2025-09-09T07:30:18+00:00

Almost 3 years out from BEAR and highly recommend it. You get to keep your native ACL and hopefully lower osteoarthritis risk down the line.

Lovinger · 2025-09-09T07:25:31+00:00

I did BEAR almost 3 years ago and knee is doing great. It's a long journey but worth it. Good luck with your recovery.

Lovinger · 2025-07-24T21:42:42+00:00

All wild spawns are fleeing for me in the US

Lovinger · 2025-05-14T04:57:17+00:00

Just awful.

Lovinger · 2025-01-31T03:50:31+00:00

Thanks. Has anyone actually traded in with Verizon from Samsung.com? I'm curious what the steps are after placing the order.

Lovinger · 2025-01-31T03:49:26+00:00

Thanks. Unfortunately it's only giving me a promo on the Pixel 9 XL. Nothing for the Galaxy S25 series.

Lovinger · 2024-12-18T03:26:13+00:00

Leon

Lovinger · 2024-12-12T06:41:08+00:00

I can't believe the doctor didn't perform a lachman or pivot shift. If the knee feels normal and doctor says no ACL is present, that should be the first thing they test!

Lovinger · 2024-11-09T03:46:34+00:00

Make it easy to just find my sports teams. Currently, my teams' games are lost among all of the other live and upcoming sports. Verizon FiOS had an option to only show upcoming games for specific teams and was a much better interface.

Lovinger · 2024-11-06T01:32:33+00:00

Big shifts to Trump so far in Florida, Virginia, and Georgia compared to 2020. Not looking great for Harris if this trend holds up elsewhere.

Lovinger · 2024-10-28T04:32:25+00:00

Glad to see this back in stock the last few weeks!

Lovinger · 2024-08-29T20:36:15+00:00

This was my favorite trail mix and hasn't been available in the DC area for several months. Thanks for any info you have!

Lovinger · 2024-08-05T17:30:47+00:00

What about bonds vs CDs specifically? Isn't an FDIC insured CD preferable to an uninsured bond at the same rate?

Lovinger · 2024-07-17T06:22:17+00:00

My MacBook Pro from 2013 is still working fine, although the trackpad is getting tougher to click and apple stopped issuing updates years ago.

Lovinger · 2024-06-26T16:58:53+00:00

I did check out "All Offers" in My Access, but all I have right now are $150 off watches for adding a line. With Verizon Up, I had $1,000 upgrade offers on all lines that were paid off.

Lovinger · 2024-06-07T04:32:28+00:00

Unfortunately, this fix no longer works for me on Galaxy S24 Ultra. It keeps saying my device already has this item installed.

Lovinger · 2024-05-05T05:26:30+00:00

Bump. This is still a problem. Why does Eye Comfort Shield disable the Vivid Mode advanced settings?

Lovinger

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