KBZK, a local CBS news affiliate and part of the Scripps Montana Media group, interviewed Dr. Brandon Beamer to understand the benefits of a new and innovative type of ACL repair, allowing avid sportsmen to regain function and return to the activities they love faster, and sometimes with better results than traditional surgery.
Kameron Conklin is an avid snowboarder who grew up in Minnesota and moved to Montana, eventually competing and finishing in first place several times in qualifying events for the Freeride World Tour. In his words, "I mainly just jump off cliffs and hope I land it, right?"
While snowboarding in Montana, Kameron faced a competitive snowboarder's worst nightmare: a torn ACL. This injury occurred at the end of a challenging line when he accidentally got tangled in some trees. He sought help from Dr. Brandon Beamer at Bridger Orthopedic Urgent Care in Bozeman. Dr. Beamer, a Sports Medicine Orthopedic Specialist with Bridger Orthopedic, frequently treats ski and snowboard injuries and performs a lot of ACL repairs. His experience in patient care dates back to 2012, having studied Sports Medicine at both Harvard and Stanford University.
Historically, ACL injuries were treated by removing the damaged tissue and replacing it with graft tissue that would eventually take the place of the injured ACL, typically requiring an average recovery time of about 12 months. Dr. Beamer was the first surgeon in Montana to introduce the BEAR implant, or Bridge Enhanced ACL Restoration. This innovative bio-engineered scaffold enables the ACL to heal itself. Kameron chose to have Dr. Beamer utilize the BEAR implant, and his recovery was remarkable. With minimal pain and swelling, he was back on the slopes shredding again within 6 months of his procedure. Kameron says, "I was able to get back quicker and get back stronger."
Not every patient is a suitable candidate for the BEAR implant, but for those who are, it can be truly life-changing.
Dr. Brandon Beamer, BEAR Implant Surgery for Kameron Conklin