11 August 2025
Craig – With open arms
REAL STORIES FROM REAL PATIENTS
Craig
“You know you’re in trouble when you can’t hug your kids.”
Craig was a busy father and professional when shoulder pain hit. He went from exercising daily and enjoying a range of sports to struggling with basic tasks.
“I couldn’t lift my arm over my head,” says Craig. “I struggled to take a shower and get dressed in the morning, and I couldn’t pick up or embrace my young daughters.”
The pain also interrupted his sleep, leading to restless nights and constant fatigue during the day. “It impacted me physically and emotionally,” says Craig. “It affected my overall well-being.”
Craig sought help from an orthopedic specialist. Over the next 18 months, he tried several non-surgical treatments, including anti-inflammatory medication and physical therapy. Unfortunately, the shoulder pain continued.
“I knew there was something wrong,” says Craig. Finally, an MRI scan revealed the problem: a full-thickness tear in his left rotator cuff.
At this point, the orthopedic specialist recommended surgery. He talked to Craig about a surgical rotator cuff repair with the REGENETEN◊ Bioinductive Implant.
“I wanted to get back my shoulder function,” says Craig, “so I researched the REGENETEN Implant and what it might offer.”
The REGENETEN Implant, Craig learned, is a small collagen patch about the size of a postage stamp. When attached to a torn rotator cuff during surgery, it helps the body grow new tendon-like tissue to heal the tear.1-5 The REGENETEN Implant can be used with both partial-thickness and full-thickness tears. When used on full-thickness tears as an addition to standard repair, it has been shown to reduce the chance of re-tear.6*
“The results were beyond my expectations,” says Craig. “I regained shoulder strength and range of motion faster than I expected, and I even got back to enjoying golf. Most importantly, I was pain-free and able to play with my kids again.”
Craig would recommend the REGENETEN Implant to other rotator cuff patients: “I was fortunate to find a specialist who could offer treatment with the REGENETEN Implant.”
As the maker of the REGENETEN Implant, Smith+Nephew is proud to support both patients and physicians. Our goal is to provide innovative products and technologies to help patients live a Life Unlimited.
To learn more about the REGENETEN Bioinductive Implant, visit REGENETEN.com.
Healthcare professional?
Read physician information on Smith-Nephew.com to learn about the REGENETEN Bioinductive Implant.
The patient’s statements represent the individual patient’s own opinions, findings, beliefs, and/or experiences. Individual results will vary. Not everyone who receives a product or treatment will experience the same or similar results; results may vary depending on a number of factors, including each patient’s specific circumstances and condition, and compliance with the applicable Instructions for Use. Smith+Nephew is not responsible for the selection of any treatment by a healthcare professional to be used on a particular patient. Smith+Nephew makes no representations, warranties, guarantees or assurances as to the availability, accuracy, currency or completeness of the information presented or its contents. 46638 7/2025
References
* Over the next 12 months, compared to repair alone.
Citations
- Camacho Chacón JA, Roda Rojo V, Martin Martinez A, et al. An isolated bioinductive repair vs. sutured repair for full-thickness rotator cuff tears: 2-year results of a double blinded, randomized controlled trial. J Shoulder Elbow Surg. Published online May 9, 2024.
- Bokor DJ, Sonnabend D, Deady L, et al. Evidence of healing of partial-thickness rotator cuff tears following arthroscopic augmentation with a collagen implant: a 2-year MRI follow-up. Muscles, Ligaments Tendons J 2016;6(1):16-25.
- Schlegel TF, Abrams JS, Bushnell BD, Brock JL, Ho CP. Radiologic and clinical evaluation of a bioabsorbable collagen implant to treat partial-thickness tears: a prospective multicenter study. J Shoulder Elbow Surg. 2018 27(2):242-251.
- Thon SG, O’Malley L, O’Brien MJ, Savoie FH. Evaluation of Healing Rates and Safety With a Bioinductive Collagen Patch for Large and Massive Rotator Cuff Tears: 2-Year Safety and Clinical Outcomes. Am J Sports Med 2019;47(8):1901-1908.
- Van Kampen C, Arnoczky S, Parks P, et al. Tissue-engineered augmentation of a rotator cuff tendon using a reconstituted collagen scaffold: a histological evaluation in sheep. Muscles Ligaments Tendons J. 2013;3(3):229-235.
- Ruiz Iban MA, et al. Augmentation of a Transosseous-Equivalent Repair in Posterosuperior Nonacute Rotator Cuff Tears with a Bioinductive Collagen Implant Decreases the Retear Rate at 1 Year: A Randomized Controlled Trial. Arthrosopy. 2024; 40(6):1760-1773.