Brownsville Medical Center Celebrates Milestone: 25th ACL Surgery Successfully Completed

Discover the Revolutionary BEAR Implant Procedure by Dr. Daniel Romanelli

ACL injuries are common, with over 100,000 ruptures annually in the U.S. alone. The Bridge-Enhanced ACL Repair (BEAR) implant is a groundbreaking orthopedic procedure that restores the ligament instead of replacing it. Dr. Daniel Romanelli, an orthopedic surgeon at DHR Health Brownsville, has completed 25 successful BEAR implants since joining the team in January.

Romanelli was the first in the Rio Grande Valley to perform the BEAR procedure at DHR Health's sister hospital in Brownsville. He finds joy in restoring the natural function of the knee for Valley residents and plans to continue this innovative approach.

"The BEAR implant provides numerous advantages, such as enabling the torn ACL to heal and restoring the knee's natural function while enhancing the healing environment for the ACL graft," Romanelli explained.

How Does the BEAR Implant Work?

1. The physician removes the torn ACL and reconstructs it with a tendon from the patient's leg (autograft) or a tendon from a donor (allograft).
2. Romanelli uses quadriceps autografts, considered the new gold standard for ACL grafts.
3. The implant protects the ACL graft from synovial fluid, creating an ideal healing environment.
4. It acts as a barrier and bridge, aiding in simultaneous healing of the torn ACL ends.
5. A small amount of the patient's blood is injected into the implant, fostering ACL healing.

Dr. Romanelli sees patients at his Brownsville and La Joya clinics and will soon be available at DHR Health's Edinburg campus. For more information on the BEAR implant procedure, contact Dr. Romanelli's office at (956) 362-5870.

What do you think?

• Do you believe the BEAR implant is a game-changer in orthopedic surgery?
• Should more hospitals offer this innovative procedure?
• Are you intrigued by the natural healing approach of the BEAR implant?