Dr. Paul Tortland provides ultrasound-guided platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injections for appropriately selected patients with shoulder pain, rotator cuff tendinopathy, and partial-thickness rotator cuff tears in Glastonbury, Connecticut. Patients from Hartford County and across Connecticut come for an evidence-based evaluation of whether PRP may help. PRP is generally not appropriate for full-thickness rotator cuff tears that are strong surgical candidates.
PRP for Shoulder Pain in Connecticut
Dr. Tortland sees patients at his Glastonbury office for evaluation of shoulder pain and related conditions. Patients commonly travel from Hartford, West Hartford, Farmington, Simsbury, South Windsor, and other Connecticut communities for physician-performed, ultrasound-guided PRP evaluation and treatment when appropriate.
How PRP Is Used for Shoulder Conditions
For the shoulder, PRP is most often considered for partial-thickness rotator cuff tears and chronic tendinopathy that has not responded to rest, physical therapy, or other conservative care. The injection is typically guided by ultrasound to ensure accurate placement around or within the affected tendon.
What the Evidence Shows
Research on PRP for shoulder conditions is more limited and more mixed than for knee osteoarthritis. Some studies suggest a benefit for chronic tendinopathy and small partial-thickness tears, particularly when conservative treatment has been tried first; others show more modest or inconsistent results. Results can be influenced by the specific preparation and concentration used, injection technique, and the precise nature of the underlying tendon pathology — which makes shoulder PRP a more individualized decision than a routine, well-established protocol.
Who May Be a Candidate
Patients with partial-thickness rotator cuff tears or chronic tendinopathy who have tried conservative measures without adequate relief, and who understand the more limited and mixed evidence base for the shoulder compared to the knee, may be reasonable candidates for evaluation.
Who May Not Be a Good Candidate
Patients with full-thickness rotator cuff tears, significant shoulder instability, or those who are strong candidates for surgical repair are generally not good candidates for PRP as a primary treatment, and should discuss surgical evaluation with their physician.
When Surgery May Be More Appropriate
Full-thickness rotator cuff tears, especially in younger or more active patients, and cases where conservative and orthobiologic options have not provided adequate relief, often benefit more predictably from surgical repair. This decision should weigh tear size, patient age and activity level, and overall goals.
What PRP Does Not Do
- It does not repair a full-thickness rotator cuff tear.
- It is not a substitute for surgery when surgery is genuinely the better option.
- Results vary and are not guaranteed or necessarily permanent.
- Candidacy depends on imaging (typically MRI or ultrasound) and a real evaluation, not a phone consult.
Dr. Tortland's Perspective
Shoulder PRP is an area where I think it's especially important to be honest about the limits of the evidence. It has a role for the right partial-thickness tear or tendinopathy patient who has tried conservative care first, but I don't consider it a substitute for imaging and a proper evaluation of tear size and pattern. If someone has a full-thickness tear that's a good surgical candidate, I'll tell them that directly rather than offer PRP as a default alternative.
Schedule a PRP Shoulder Evaluation
Office: 59 Sycamore St, Suite 301, Glastonbury, CT 06033
Phone: (860) 430-2821
Care focus: Ultrasound-guided evaluation and individualized non-surgical options for shoulder tendinopathy and select rotator cuff tears
Considering treatment with Dr. Tortland? Start with Shoulder for the patient-facing shoulder treatment page.