What if recovery after partial thickness rotator cuff repair didn't have to be slow?

A randomised controlled trial (RCT), demonstrated that isolated bioinductive repair with the REGENETEN◊ Implant is an effective treatment which accelerates recovery compared to traditional rotator cuff repair¹

Key takeaways

Early functional recovery and quality of life are key priorities for patients undergoing surgery for symptomatic high grade partial thickness rotator cuff tears.
In a prospective randomised controlled trial, patients treated with isolated bioinductive repair with the REGENETEN implant, compared to takedown and double-row rotator cuff repair (traditional RCR) experienced:¹

• An earlier return to daily activities
• Earlier shoulder related quality of life improvements
• High rates of tendon healing at 12 months

The challenge: recovery matters as much as repair

Partial thickness rotator cuff tears are common and can significantly affect day-to-day life, causing ongoing pain, functional limitation, and reduced quality of life. While traditional RCR is effective at restoring tendon integrity, the recovery journey itself can be demanding, often involving prolonged sling use, restrictions on activity, and a gradual return to independence.¹

For patients, this period can feel long and disruptive. For clinicians, it raises an important question: can we support earlier functional recovery while supporting tendon healing?¹

A closer look at the evidence: faster recovery with the REGENETEN Implant¹

This investigator initiated RCT compared isolated bioinductive repair with the REGENETEN Implant with traditional RCR in patients with symptomatic high grade (≥50%) partial thickness tears who had not responded to conservative treatment (persistent symptoms for >3 months despite conservative (nonoperative) management including physiotherapy, oral anti-inflammatory medication and corticosteroid injections).

Patients were followed prospectively using validated patient reported outcome measures (including Western Ontario Rotator Cuff Index (WORC) and American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons (ASES) score), activity-based recovery milestones, and high-resolution MRI. This allowed both recovery experience and structural outcomes to be assessed side-by-side over time.

Earlier functional recovery¹

One of the clearest findings from the study was the difference in early recovery trajectory.

Patients treated with isolated bioinductive repair with the REGENETEN Implant, experienced substantially faster functional recovery than those undergoing traditional repair as measured by WORC and ASES Score.¹

Patients reported:

• Better shoulder related quality of life: 6 weeks (p=0.001) and 3 months (p=0.026)
• Lower pain levels at 6 weeks (p<0.001)
• Superior functional scores 6 weeks (p=0.001) and 3 months (p=0.026)

By the primary 3-month endpoint:

• Over 90% of REGENETEN Implant treated patients exceeded the minimally clinically important difference for WORC compared with 65% in the traditional repair group

Together, these findings point to a different recovery experience, one defined not just by statistical improvement, but by earlier independence and a faster return to everyday life.

Getting back to everyday life, sooner

For patients, recovery isn’t measured only in scores, it’s measured in daily milestones.

Compared with traditional repair, patients treated with isolated bioinductive repair with the REGENETEN Implant returned significantly sooner to key daily activities, including:

• Permanent sling removal (p<0.001)
• Driving (p=0.009)
• Office based work (p=0.009)
• Moderate household activities p (<0.001)

Across multiple functional milestones, recovery occurred earlier in the REGENETEN Implant group, helping patients resume normal routines sooner.¹

Meaningful improvements in quality of life

Quality of life after surgery goes beyond pain reduction alone. WORC domains capturing work, lifestyle, sport, and emotional wellbeing all showed earlier and superior improvement in the REGENETEN Implant group during the early post-operative period at 6 weeks (p=0.001) and 3 months (p=0.026).¹

Improvements in these scores reflect benefits that matter directly to patients:²

• Confidence using the arm sooner
• Reduced disruption to work and family life
• Earlier emotional and functional recovery

While long-term outcomes were similar between groups, the early quality of life advantage represents a meaningful difference in how recovery is experienced.^1,2

Earlier recovery and supported tendon healing¹

An earlier recovery is only valuable if high rates of tendon healing are demonstrated.

MRI assessment at 6 and 12 months demonstrated:

• No difference in tendon integrity between treatment groups
• High rates of intact tendon healing (Sugaya grades 1–2) in both groups; at 12 months 90% of patients in the REGENETEN Implant group compared to 85% of patients in the traditional RCR group
• No full thickness retears in either cohort

These findings confirm that the earlier recovery seen with isolated bioinductive repair with the REGENETEN Implant was achieved with high rates of tendon healing.

What this means for patients and clinicians

For patients with symptomatic high grade (≥50%) partial thickness rotator cuff tears, these findings suggest a treatment approach that supports earlier return to function and quality of life.

As expectations around recovery continue to evolve, evidence that helps clinicians reframe recovery conversations is increasingly valuable. This randomised trial adds to that conversation, highlighting what a more recovery focused approach to rotator cuff repair can look like in practice.

A more recovery focused approach in rotator cuff repair

As expectations around recovery continue to evolve, treatment strategies that prioritise earlier return to function and quality of life are increasingly important.

This randomised trial adds to the growing body of evidence suggesting that isolated bioinductive repair with the REGENETEN Implant, can offer a different recovery journey; one defined by earlier gains, meaningful quality of life improvements, and durable healing.

 

The REGENETEN Bioinductive Implant: revolutionizing rotator cuff repair

 

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The REGENETEN^◊ Bioinductive Implant is only available from Smith+Nephew

This information is for educational and informational purposes only and may not be appropriate for all jurisdictions. This information does not constitute and is not intended to be medical advice. Smith+Nephew does not provide medical advice. It is the treating health care provider’s responsibility to determine the best course of treatment for their patient based upon their professional medical judgment. For detailed product information, including indications for use, contraindications, effects, precautions and warnings, please consult the product’s Instructions for Use (IFU) prior to use.

Citations
1. Wang A, et al. Orthop J Sports Med. 2026;14(3):23259671261418675.
2. Kirkley A, et al. Clin J Sport Med. 2003;13(2):84–92.