Healing a Full-Thickness Rotator Cuff Tear Without Surgery

70-Year-Old Patient Avoids Surgery for Complete Tendon Tear

A woman in her seventies had suffered eight months of shoulder pain and weakness. The pain rated as high as ten out of ten and limited her daily activities. Physical therapy, rest, and anti-inflammatory medications had not helped. An MRI scan revealed a full-thickness tear of her supraspinatus tendon—one of four muscles forming the rotator cuff. This type of tear extends completely through the tendon, which traditionally requires either surgery or living with ongoing pain.

Patient Chooses Lipogems® Over Traditional Options

After reviewing her imaging results and discussing all treatment options, the patient decided against surgery. She elected to receive the Lipogems® procedure, which uses micro-fragmented adipose tissue (specially processed fat) from her own body. Fat tissue contains mesenchymal stem cells—regenerative cells that can support the body's natural healing process. The thick consistency of processed fat also helps it stay in place within the tear, acting as a scaffold for tissue repair.

Minimally Invasive Procedure Targets Multiple Structures

The treatment took place in a single session:

• Fat was harvested from the patient's hip area using a gentle, low-pressure technique

• The tissue was processed to remove inflammatory oils while preserving stem cells and supportive structures

• Using ultrasound guidance, physicians injected the processed fat directly into the torn supraspinatus tendon

• Additional injections treated related shoulder problems, including biceps tendon inflammation and a partial tear of another rotator cuff muscle

Ultrasound Shows Progressive Tendon Healing

Follow-up imaging documented gradual improvement in the torn tendon over time. Ultrasound examinations revealed that the adipose tissue remained precisely where it was injected, filling the gap in the tear. The patient experienced meaningful reductions in pain and improvements in shoulder function. Both ultrasound and MRI confirmed progressive healing of the supraspinatus tendon following the procedure.

Case Supports Non-Surgical Option for Severe Tears

This case is significant because full-thickness rotator cuff tears have historically offered limited choices. Surgical repair carries risks, and studies show re-tear rates ranging from roughly ten to ninety percent after surgery. Older patients and those with larger tears face higher chances of re-tear. The Lipogems® procedure offers several potential advantages:

• Uses your own tissue, eliminating rejection risk

• Minimally invasive with no surgical incisions

• Stem cells support natural tissue regeneration

• Fat matrix provides structure while healing occurs

What This Means for Your Treatment Decision

This published case demonstrates that micro-fragmented adipose tissue can successfully treat even complete rotator cuff tears—not just partial tears. The 70-year-old patient achieved documented pain relief and functional improvement, with imaging confirming tendon healing. While this represents one patient's experience rather than a large clinical trial, it adds to growing evidence supporting Lipogems® for serious musculoskeletal injuries.

If you have a full-thickness rotator cuff tear, this case suggests that a non-surgical regenerative approach may be worth discussing with your physician. The procedure may be particularly relevant if you wish to avoid surgery, have conditions that increase surgical risk, or want to try a less invasive option first.

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Source: Ferrell et al., Future Medicine, 2023.