Rotator cuff tears above the shoulder are a common orthopaedic malady. They can occur in a variety of ways, either from trauma or as a result of wear and tear from repetitive activities.

Rotator cuff tears are actually more common in people in their forties, fifties, and sixties than in younger sports enthusiasts. Although some cuff tears, especially small, partial ones, can be treated non-operatively, many times surgical repair will ultimately be necessary. In those who require rotator cuff repair, the remaining tendon tissue may be weak, resulting in a poor repair. For those cases, we now have the availability of a restorable tissue scaffold derived from pig intestine that can be used to reinforce the repair and improve the patient’s healing. This framework is sutured into place and allows the rotator cuff tendon to regenerate itself. As new tissue grows, the scaffold gradually disappears until all that remains is the patient’s own tissue.

P.S. Orthobiologics, such as the pig intestines, are a rapidly advancing new technology for treating damaged tissue, giving improved results.