By Laura Freeman

In June of last year, UAB became the first orthopedic surgery program in Alabama to use BioBrace implants to support weakened soft tissue in procedures like ACL and Rotator Cuff repairs, where it can be difficult to achieve and maintain successful outcomes. Each procedure that was done with BioBrace was tracked in detail as the patients’ healing progressed, and now the results are in and have been published.

“I’ve done more than 50 rotator cuffs in that time and quite a few other soft tissue repairs working with BioBrace, and the results have been impressive,” Chief of Sports Medicine Amit Momaya, MD said. A surgeon in the UAB Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Momaya is also team physician for UAB Athletics, the Birmingham Bulls hockey team, and Hoover Vestavia Soccer.

In the past, soft tissue support was either synthetic or biologic. BioBrace is both. Its purpose is to help prevent reinjury and to speed healing.

“One of the key differences between BioBrace and other options is that it isn’t just contributing the strength of external materials. It also works with the biology, blood and the body’s own healing factors. It reabsorbs, so eventually it becomes tissue and doesn’t have to be removed,” Momaya said.

Offered by the Conmed Corporation, the biocomposite design of the BioBrace reinforced bioinductive implant is made with two distinct materials. The first is a highly porous type I collagen sponge matrix with pores sizes to rapidly engage with the body’s healing systems. It is reinforced with microfilaments made of resorbable poly (L-lactide) (PILLA)

Although it is bioinductive, it is also durable enough to allow suturing and cannula passing. It is designed to be placed between the repaired tendon and bone, providing a scaffold for new tissue growth. It promotes cellular infiltration and the development of new blood vessels. The implant is FDA indicated to reinforce soft tissue where weakness exists and is available in two sizes.

“We’re also finding it helpful in quite a few other applications that involve soft tissue, such as Tommy John surgery, Achilles and ankle repairs, some types of knee injuries and other types of shoulder and joint conditions that can benefit from soft tissue augmentation,” Momaya said.

By augmenting weak tissue and giving it a protective shield to help it withstand unexpected jolts and movements that could reinjure the repair, the hope is that the implant will give the tissue an opportunity to become stronger and speed healing time.

In some surgeries, the implant also seems to reduce pain and improve the odds for a better overall outcome and return to function. “These types of injuries can be quite painful and have a negative effect on patient’s lives, especially when surgeries don’t achieve a good outcome or when reinjury sends them back to the same difficult position where they have to start over,” Momaya said. “What we’ve seen in our experience with BioBrace so far is that it really does seem to be helping with outcomes, prevent reinjuries and get better results the first time.

“As research and new applications develop over time, I’m looking forward to seeing how this new tool and other new tools we are working on now will be able to help our patients.”