Procedures · Rotator cuff · Glastonbury, CT
Many shoulder patients are told a rotator cuff tear means surgery. Partial tears are often a different story. Dr. Paul Tortland, DO, has used PRP since 2007 and shows patients from across New England, on live ultrasound, which tears may respond to PRP and which truly need a surgeon.
PRP may reduce pain and support healing in partial rotator cuff tears and tendinopathy, while surgery is usually needed for full-thickness tears that have pulled away from the bone. PRP does not reattach a completely torn tendon. Dr. Tortland sorts out which you have using live ultrasound and your MRI.
Each option suits a different kind of tear. The right choice depends on tear size, your age and activity, and what your imaging shows.
| Consideration | PRP (non-surgical) | Rotator cuff surgery |
|---|---|---|
| Best fit | Partial tears, tendinopathy, and people trying to delay or avoid surgery | Full-thickness tears, retracted tendons, and shoulders that have not improved with non-surgical care |
| What it does | Aims to support healing of the damaged tendon; it does not reattach a completely torn tendon | Repairs the tendon back to the bone |
| Time to benefit | About 4 to 12 weeks | Recovery and rehabilitation take months |
| Main limit | Results vary by person and tear | Longer recovery and the risks that come with any surgery |
| If the other is needed | Dr. Tortland refers to a trusted orthopedic surgeon | Non-surgical care can still be discussed first when the tear allows |
| Pricing | Custom-concentrate, high-dose PRP (not just PRP) from $1,800, pending a full diagnostic workup, if recommended by Dr. Tortland | Set by the surgical practice and your plan |
The $500 evaluation includes a same-visit musculoskeletal ultrasound that Dr. Tortland performs himself. He can watch the tendon while you move the arm, see how thick the tear is, and compare it with your MRI. Patients arrive from across New England, and about 30 percent travel from outside Connecticut.
If the tear needs repair, he says so directly and refers you to a trusted orthopedic surgeon. A thorough non-surgical evaluation does not close off surgery as an option.
Related reading: shoulder pain treatment, cellular orthobiologics (BMA and MFAT), orthopedic surgeon vs non-surgical specialist and how Dr. Tortland diagnoses shoulder pain.
Many partial tears and tendon problems can improve without surgery. Whether yours will depends on the tear, your symptoms and your goals, which is why the first step is a precise diagnosis on ultrasound and MRI.
No. PRP does not reattach a completely torn tendon. If your imaging shows a full tear, Dr. Tortland will explain your surgical options and refer you to a trusted surgeon.
Most patients notice gradual improvement between 6 and 16 weeks, and PRP usually shows benefit in about 4 to 12 weeks. Follow-up with repeat ultrasound happens within 6 weeks to 3 months.
In most cases, start with a non-surgical specialist. A thorough evaluation makes sure surgery is recommended only when it is truly necessary.
Bring your shoulder MRI from the last year, on disc or a link that does not expire, plus the report and any x-rays.
Mulvaney SW, Tortland PD, Shiple B, Curtis K. Regenerative medicine options for chronic musculoskeletal conditions: a review of the literature. Endurance and Sports Medicine. 2018.
Everts P, Onishi K, Jayaram P, Lana JF, Mautner K. Platelet-Rich Plasma: New Performance Understandings and Therapeutic Considerations in 2020. Int J Mol Sci. 2020;21(20):7794.
Candidacy is determined on ultrasound, not over the phone. Bring your imaging and get a straight answer about your joint in one visit.