Luna’s Story: Teen Trailblazer Becomes First BEAR Implant Patient in Connecticut
Very rarely does a high school student who aspires to study medicine get a first-hand opportunity to be a medical trailblazer. But 15-year-old Luna Martini stepped comfortably into that role when she became the first patient in Connecticut to receive a BEAR® Implant to treat her torn anterior cruciate ligament (ACL).
A freshman at Farmington High School, Luna aspires to be a doctor herself someday. So, after suffering an ACL tear from a ski fall, she got personally involved with evaluating different treatment options for repairing the injury. After being presented with traditional ACL reconstruction surgery options, Luna and her parents were referred to Dr. Allison Crepeau, a pediatric orthopedic surgeon at Connecticut Children’s Medical Center in Hartford, Conn.
At the time, Dr. Crepeau was one of the few surgeons in the U.S. that had trained extensively on the new BEAR Implant technology, and she shared details of the procedure with the Martini family.
“This has been something we’ve known has been coming for a long time,” Dr. Crepeau, says. “It’s a very exciting option to have in our toolbox. It has the advantage of possibly decreasing pain and trauma to the knee related to the surgery. It also means no tissue needs to be borrowed to make the new ACL, and there’s no second surgical wound site.”
Treatment of ACL Tears
The ACL, one of four ligaments within the knee that connects the femur to the tibia, is one of the most commonly injured ligaments in the knee, particularly among athletes. Traditionally, a tear to the ACL has been treated with ACL reconstruction, also known as ACL replacement surgery. This procedure replaces the torn ACL with a ligament or tendon harvested from another part of the body or, in some cases, from a deceased donor.
However, short- and long- term side effects are possible with this reconstructive procedure, including pain when kneeling, reduced strength in the hamstring or quad muscles and a possible risk of disease transmission when donor tissue is used.
Unlike many other ligaments in the body, the ACL does not have the natural ability to heal on its own. A thick liquid — called synovial fluid — reduces friction between the bones when the knee moves. As important as this fluid is for proper knee function, it also prevents the formation of blood clots that are critical for healing after a tear.
How the BEAR Implant Works
The BEAR Implant acts as a bridge between the two ends of a torn ACL, enabling the body to heal itself. A small amount of the patient’s own blood is inserted into the implant, which is then placed between the torn ends of the ACL. The BEAR Implant holds and protects that blood to allow the formation of the clot that is necessary for healing.
After approximately eight weeks, the BEAR Implant is resorbed by the body and replaced with tissue that continues to strengthen over time
Luna’s Future is Bright
Luna is looking forward to returning to hiking, figure skating, cross-country running, skiing and being fully active during her high school and college years.
“This accident has been a pretty fascinating experience because I’m getting to see a little bit more of the medical world and learn a bit more,” Luna said. “The BEAR Implant created an environment for my ACL to heal itself. It’s an amazing technology and procedure. And I think it’s cool to be able to make even a minor impact on the medical community at such a young age. And hey, being first in the state – that sounds pretty good on a college application, doesn’t it?”
We think so too, Luna.
Learn more about the BEAR Implant
Find a surgeon who offers the BEAR Implant or discuss the option with your orthopedic surgeon.
EXCLUSIVE : Farmington teen trailblazes brand new ACL procedure in Connecticut
The BEAR Implant from Miach Orthopaedics was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in December 2020. It is indicated for skeletally mature patients at least 14 years of age with a complete rupture of the ACL confirmed by MRI. Patients must have an ACL stump attached to the tibia to facilitate the restoration. The BEAR device must be implanted within 50 days of injury.
Visit www.miachortho.com for complete product information, including Instructions for Use.