Torn ACL? Get Educated About BEAR

Atlantic Orthopaedics & Sports Medicine now offers patients an alternative to surgical reconstruction – a less invasive procedure called Bridge Enhanced ACL Restoration, or BEAR. Clinically tested and FDA-approved, this promising new procedure has been adopted by our own Dr. Tyler Welch, who performed the first BEAR surgery in the state of Maine! Dr. Welch is an orthopedic surgeon and partner at Atlantic Orthopaedics who specializes in Sports Medicine, with a focus on the knee, shoulder, and hip. His mission is to restore his patient’s function through compassionate, evidence-based care.

Anterior cruciate ligament, or ACL, tears are one of the most common knee injuries, affecting more than 100,000 Americans each year. The ACL is a band of tissue that connects the thigh bone (femur) to the shinbone (tibia) inside the knee joint. It is one of the two cruciate ligaments, along with the medial collateral ligament (MCL), that stabilize the knee joint and prevent the tibia from sliding forward. ACL injuries most often occur when playing sports that involve sudden changes in direction, like:

Basketball
Soccer
Gymnastics
Downhill skiing

Pivoting with your foot firmly planted in place, landing awkwardly from a fall or jump, stopping suddenly, or getting a blow to the knee, along with wearing shoes that don’t fit properly or using ski bindings that aren’t correctly adjusted, can all increase your risk. ACL tears are also more common among women than men. Signs that you’ve torn the ligament, either partially or fully, include severe pain, a popping sensation, rapid swelling, and a feeling of the knee “giving way” when you put weight on it.

If you think you’ve torn your ACL it’s important to be evaluated by an orthopedic doctor as soon as possible. It is possible that the ligament has been stretched or only partially torn, and in those cases the injury may respond to non-surgical treatments like ice, rest, elevation, or physical therapy. Unfortunately, a complete ACL tear can’t heal on its own. This is because the synovial fluid in the knee that keeps the bones from rubbing together also prevents the formation of blood clots needed for healing. Until recently, the only fix for a complete tear has been surgical reconstruction, where a tendon is taken from another part of the patient’s body, or from donor tissue, to reconstruct the torn ligament.

We recently sat down with Dr. Welch to ask him a few questions about the new BEAR procedure.

Q: Tell us Dr. Welch, how does this new procedure benefit your patients?

A: This procedure can benefit patients because it is less invasive than a typical ACL reconstruction. Unlike typical ACL reconstruction, the patient does not need a “graft” to replace the ACL with the BEAR technique. As a result, the procedure may lead to less pain and swelling in the post-surgery period.

What makes BEAR unique is that it doesn’t require patient or donor tissue, instead using an implant made from collagen to bridge the gap between the torn ends of the ACL ligament. The implant is secured via suture, and the patient’s own blood is injected into it during the surgery to form a clot that surrounds the device. This facilitates cell proliferation and enables the body to heal itself. Within about eight weeks of surgery, the implant is absorbed, and replaced by the patient’s own tissue, which will continue to strengthen over time.

Q: Who is a good candidate for a BEAR Procedure?

A: Anyone with an ACL tear is a candidate. Based on recent research, individuals over the age of 20 are the best candidates.

Q: Anything else you’d like patients to know about this new procedure?

A: This is an exciting time in the world of ACL surgery. The BEAR procedure may be a game-changer, but the jury is still out. It is important for patients to know that we do not have any long-term clinical data regarding the BEAR technique. We do not yet know if the re-tear rates (failure rates) are higher in patients who have a BEAR compared to those who have a typical ACL reconstruction over the long term (more than five years). However, current research (two year outcomes) has revealed similar success rates when comparing the BEAR technique to traditional ACL reconstruction. This is encouraging data that suggests that the BEAR technique is reliable.

Candidates for the BEAR procedure must have a complete rupture of the ACL. Eligible patients must also have a stump still attached to the tibia to allow for repair. Dr. Welch currently performs this procedure at York Hospital in York, ME and the BEAR procedure should be available soon at AOSM’s state-of-the-art orthopaedic ambulatory surgery center, NECOS in Portsmouth, NH.

If you think you may be a good fit for the BEAR procedure, schedule an appointment for an evaluation with Dr. Welch. To learn more, click HERE.

NH Magazine Announces 2023 Top Docs

Each year, over 3,000 licensed New Hampshire physicians nominate their peers for the opportunity to receive the honor of ‘Top Doctor.’ Those named Top Doctors received the greatest number of recommendations within 55+ specialties, and the results are in! We think all of our docs are top, but this year, eight of our physicians were voted ‘Top Doctor,’ including:

Glen Crawford, MD – Top Doctor for Orthopaedic Surgery
Robert Eberhart, MD* – Top Doctor for Hand Surgery
Andrew McMahon, DO – Top Doctor for Sports Medicine
Mayo Noerdlinger, MD – Top Doctor for Orthopaedic Surgery
H. Matthew Quitkin, MD – Top Doctor for Hand Surgery
Akhilesh Sastry, MD – Top Doctor for Orthopaedic Surgery
William Sutherland, MD – Top Doctor for Orthopaedic Surgery
Tyler Welch, MD – Top Doctor for Orthopaedic Surgery

Congratulations to all the 2023 Top Doctors!

Learn more about our providers in Portsmouth, NH and York, ME HERE. Or click HERE to make an appointment with our orthopaedic and sports medicine team.

*As of January 1, 2023 Dr. Robert Eberhart officially retired.

Dr. Welch Becomes First Surgeon in Maine to Perform a BEAR Procedure

ACL tears are one of the most common knee injuries, affecting more than 100,000 Americans each year. Until now, the only way to repair the torn ligament was with invasive surgical reconstruction using tendons from other parts of the body or from donor tissue.

We’re excited to announce that there’s now a simpler, less invasive treatment available called Bridge Enhanced ACL Restoration (BEAR), pioneered by our own Dr. Welch, who recently performed the first BEAR procedure in the state of Maine. The surgery uses an implant to ‘bridge’ the torn gaps of the ACL without the need for donor tissue but instead, using patient’s own blood encourages the body rebuild the tissue, typically within 8 weeks.

Congratulations Dr. Welch on this outstanding achievement!

If you’re suffering from knee pain, and would like to discuss your options with one of our knee specialists, please contact us today.

*Other resources on BEAR Procedure can be found here.

Advances in Hip and Knee Replacement: ‘All About Robotic Surgery’ – An In Person Event with Dr. Morwood

Is hip or knee pain keeping you from the activities you love?
Take the first step towards recovery and learn how robotic assisted joint replacement surgery can improve your quality of life. Attend this FREE educational event with Dr. Michael Morwood!

Advances in Hip and Knee Replacement: ‘All About Robotic Surgery’
Thursday, July 14th, 2022 | 5:30pm – 7:30pm
Sheraton Portland at Sable Oaks
200 Sable Oaks Dr. South Portland, ME 04106
Light refreshments will be provided.

REGISTER NOW!
Scan the QR Code below or click HERE to get your tickets!

2022 Top Docs

Each year, over 3,000 licensed New Hampshire physicians nominate their peers for the opportunity to receive the honor of ‘Top Doctor.’ Those named Top Doctors received the greatest number of recommendations within 55+ specialties, and the results are in! We think all of our docs are top, but this year, seven of our physicians were voted ‘Top Doctor,’ including:
(Pictured below from left to right)

Glen Crawford, MD – Top Doctor for Orthopaedic Surgery
Robert Eberhart, MD – Top Doctor for Hand Surgery
Andy McMahon, DO – Top Doctor for Sports Medicine
Mayo Noerdlinger, MD – Top Doctor for Orthopaedic Surgery
H. Matthew Quitkin, MD – Top Doctor for Hand Surgery
Akhilesh Sastry, MD – Top Doctor for Orthopaedic Surgery
William Sutherland, MD – Top Doctor for Orthopaedic Surgery

Congratulations to all the 2022 Top Doctors!

Learn more about our providers in Portsmouth, NH and York, ME HERE. Or click HERE to make an appointment with our orthopaedic and sports medicine team.

New Ambulatory Surgery Center Coming to AOSM!

New England Center for Orthopaedic Surgery Will Open Spring 2021

Atlantic Orthopaedics and Sports Medicine broke ground last week on a new ambulatory surgery center, New England Center for Orthopaedic Surgery.

The new, single-story ambulatory surgery center, affiliated with Portsmouth Regional Hospital and jointly owned with HCA Healthcare, will provide high-quality outpatient care for orthopedic patients.

The project encompasses 11,000 square feet of space for patients and visitors, and the building is located at 1900 Lafayette Road, Suite E, Portsmouth, New Hampshire 03801.

New England Center for Orthopaedic Surgery will feature:

Three operating rooms specially designed for orthopedic procedures
Private registration area for patients
Modern, comfortable waiting area with welcoming atmosphere
Operating rooms with the most up-to-date technology

The new, state-of-the-art facility will be highly specialized as a single-specialty center offering only orthopedic procedures for patients. It is set to be complete in the spring of 2021.

“Patients in Portsmouth will have a safe, convenient and cost-effective environment for receiving orthopedic outpatient care at New England Center for Orthopaedic Surgery,” said Michael Morwood, MD, orthopedic surgeon at New England Center for Orthopaedic Surgery. “Our modern ambulatory surgery center will be thoughtfully designed to ensure patients will feel comfortable and at ease while receiving excellent healthcare.”

About The HCA Healthcare Ambulatory Surgery Division

The HCA Healthcare Ambulatory Surgery Division operates and jointly owns with physicians, 144 ambulatory surgery centers throughout the United States. Located in 16 states with more than 3,200 physician partners, the HCA Healthcare Ambulatory Surgery Division is focused on collaborating with physicians to advance healthcare in our communities. Each year, the HCA Healthcare Ambulatory Surgery Division cares for more than 786,000 patients. HCA Healthcare ambulatory surgery centers are built on a foundation of quality care and a commitment to providing patients with healthier tomorrows.

Dr. Michael Morwood Published in the Journal of Arthroplasty

Dr. Morwood was recently published in the Journal of Arthroplasty. Dr. Morwood, who specializes in knee replacements says, “One of the main causes of total knee replacement failure is micromotion of the implants. This study was performed to see if the addition of a short stem extension onto the tibial component in a total knee replacement limits the motion of the implant. We were able to show the addition of a short stem provides a significant reduction in micromotion during cyclic loading of a cementless tibial baseplate in a synthetic foam bone model, similar to a cemented implant. The findings of this study may help lower the rate of tibial component loosening in total knee replacement.”

To read the entire study, please click HERE.

Dr. Sastry Leads MAKO Robotics Training at The New England Baptist Hospital

July 2020 – Dr. Akhil Sastry, Board-Certified Orthopaedic Surgeon and provider at Atlantic Orthopaedics & Sports Medicine recently led a MAKO Robotics training at the New England Baptist Hospital in Boston, Massachusetts. Dr. Sastry was the sole faculty member to facilitate the launch of their MAKO Robotics training program.

As robotic-assisted knee and hip replacement surgeries penetrate Boston’s most elite academic and fellowship programs, Portsmouth’s very own Mako Master Surgeon Akhil Sastry was selected to facilitate the launch at the New England Baptist, one of the most heralded institutions of orthopedics in the country.

To prepare for their first robotic knee surgery in a few weeks, Dr. Sastry trained a total of 8 surgeons in this one-time training session and has been invited back to provide additional training to another group of surgeons on August 6, 2020.

Dr. Sastry provided hands-on training and proctoring on how to perform this innovative and cutting-edge procedure. Dr. Sastry was not only one of the first surgeons to perform a robotic-assisted knee replacement in the world in 2017, in addition, he continues to teach and advance robotic concepts with joint replacements nationally. He has been selected to Chair these programs on many occasions and has trained over 100 surgeons from across the country.

Schedule a consultation with Dr. Sastry.

All About Robotic Surgery – Free Webinar – July 8th, 2020

Please join us on Zoom for another FREE virtual webinar with Dr. Michael Morwood on Wednesday, July 8, 2020, from 5:30-6:30pm.

Dr. Morwood will discuss common causes for hip and knee pain and advances in robotic assisted joint replacements that can help you get back to doing what you love. There will be a brief Q & A session following the presentation. If you’re experiencing joint pain, you won’t want to miss this FREE event.

Topics will include understanding joint paint, your treatment options, joint replacement surgery and recovery expectations.

**Registration is required to attend this webinar, to register please click HERE.

FREE Webinar with Dr. Michael Morwood – Hip & Knee Replacements

Grab your lunch and join us on Zoom for a virtual webinar with Dr. Michael Morwood on Wednesday, June 24, 2020, from 12–1 p.m.

Dr. Morwood will discuss common causes for hip and knee pain and advances in robotic-assisted joint replacements that can help you get back to doing what you love. There will be a brief Q & A session following the presentation. If you’re experiencing joint pain, you won’t want to miss this FREE event. For more information or to register, please click HERE.

Robotics Surgery Growing Fast at Portsmouth Regional Hospital

Did you know Portsmouth Regional Hospital is a Center of Excellence for Robotic Surgery and now has the largest fleet of surgical robots on the Seacoast – including one Mako and two da Vinci robots?

Dr. Sastry, the first Master Robotics Surgeon in New England, was recently featured in the Portsmouth Herald talking about the accuracy and precision of joint replacement surgery using the Mako. “These are exciting times in the world of robotic surgery. The accuracy and precision of surgery is vastly improved, and surgery is less invasive and violent than previously. We rely on our technology, on AI to tell us, to simulate how the operation will go before it is performed. Each surgery is customized to the patient. We have done over 1,000 robotic surgeries at Portsmouth Regional Hospital!” said Sastry.

Read the full article HERE.

If you’re interested in learning more about robotic joint replacement, please contact us today!

First In Maine!

Dr. Mayo Noerdlinger, Board-Certified Orthopaedic Surgeon and provider at Atlantic Orthopaedics & Sports Medicine, recently became the first surgeon in Maine to perform a computer navigated stemless total shoulder replacement using ExactechGPS-guided technology, an innovative new procedure for shoulder replacement. Already one of the top shoulder surgeons in the Northeast.

Dr. Noerdlinger and his patients continue to benefit from this new technology, a major advancement in shoulder replacement. Dr. Noerdlinger also performed the first GPS-guided total shoulder surgery at York Hospital, the first hospital in the Northeast to purchase ExactechGPS.

ExactechGPS shoulder replacement, also called ExactechGPS Shoulder Application, improves the precision and predictability of shoulder surgery from preoperative planning to real-time execution. This new technology helps the surgeon better understand his or her patient’s anatomy before entering the operating room, and during surgery ExactechGPS provides a real-time view of the implant placement process and guides the surgeon toward any necessary adjustments.

“The shoulder replacement technology keeps getting better, allowing the surgeon to reproduce the patient’s anatomy in a more minimally invasive and bone sparing manner,” said Noerdlinger. “By replicating the patient’s anatomy, we anticipate the functional outcomes will improve and the recovery times will shorten. As life expectancies increase, the longevity of joint replacements becomes more and more of an important issue. Shoulder replacements are thought to last 15-20 years before patients might develop pain needing revision surgery. With the stemless design, there is less metal going into the bone, which will make future surgeries easier to perform. This new design is a particularly attractive option for younger patients undergoing shoulder replacement surgery.”

Mayo Noerdlinger, MD, FAAOS, CIME, specializes in orthopedic, reconstructive and arthroscopic surgery; shoulder surgery and replacement; reverse shoulder replacement; treatment of torn tendons and ligaments; sports medicine and others. He is also the physician behind Seacoast Shoulder, which offers patients the latest in state-of-the-art treatment for shoulder ailments of all kinds. Visit www.atlanticorthopaedics.org for more information, or call 603.431.1121.

Atlantic Orthopaedics & Sports Medicine is a group of Board-Certified physicians who utilize the latest concepts in orthopaedics and sports medicine, coupled with preventive and surgical techniques. For more information, visit www.atlanticorthopaedics.org, or call the Portsmouth clinic at 603.431.1121.

York Hospital‘s surgery center mixes advanced technology with personalized care in a comfortable, and caring environment. The center is equipped with five surgical suites staffed by a dedicated and highly trained team of specialists that care for patients preoperatively, during surgery and in recovery. Our center is well-equipped with the latest advances in technology and instrumentation for the more than 6,500 surgical procedures annually. For more information, visit yorkhospital.com or call 207-351-2385.