Rotator Cuff Repair Surgery
Arthroscopic tendon-to-bone suture repair
For full-thickness and large rotator cuff tears, the torn tendon is repaired to bone using suture anchors under arthroscopic visualization. Performed with BPB (brachial plexus block) + sedation — no general anesthesia. Same-day discharge possible (1-night stay recommended), minimal bracing, 12-week free sports rehab included.
Rotator Cuff Repair Specialist Clinic
Dr. Lee performs every rotator cuff surgery personally at Platinum Clinic
Dr. Lee is a shoulder & elbow orthopedic specialist who performed thousands of arthroscopic shoulder surgeries at Yonsei Alchan Orthopedic Clinic. At Platinum Clinic, he prioritizes non-surgical treatment first — and when surgery is truly necessary, he performs it directly. A non-surgical specialist performing surgery means: minimizing surgical scope and maximizing rehabilitation recovery.
Shoulder & Elbow Specialist
Dr. Lee performs directly
BPB + Sedation, No General Anesthesia
Same-day discharge · 1 night recommended
12-Week Free Sports Rehab
Via KakaoTalk or Shoulder Care app
When is rotator cuff repair surgery needed?
Full-Thickness Tear
Completely severed tendon. Large or massive tears, or tears with muscle atrophy and fatty degeneration — surgery is the first-line treatment.
Acute Traumatic Tear in Young Patients
Full-thickness tear from a fall or collision. Early surgical repair is critical to prevent muscle atrophy.
Failed Conservative Treatment
When injections, shockwave, or stem cell therapy have been sufficiently tried without improvement. Dr. Lee reviews imaging personally before deciding.
Progressing Partial Tear
Partial tears exceeding 50% with early muscle atrophy, or tears that continue to enlarge despite non-surgical care.
Non-surgical treatment comes first
Platinum Clinic applies a non-surgical-first principle. For small-to-medium full-thickness tears without muscle atrophy, non-surgical options (injections, bone marrow stimulation, stem cell therapy) are tried first. Surgery is performed only when truly necessary — by Dr. Lee personally.
Arthroscopic Rotator Cuff Repair — Step by Step
Pre-Surgical Assessment
Precise evaluation of tear location, size, muscle atrophy, and fatty degeneration using ultrasound and MRI. Determines repairability and whether combined Regeneten augmentation is appropriate.
BPB + Sedation Anesthesia
Brachial plexus block (BPB) + sedation anesthesia. No general anesthesia — ever. Safe for elderly patients. No pain or anxiety during the procedure.
Arthroscopic Repair
The torn tendon is visualized directly through the arthroscope and sutured back to bone (greater tuberosity) using suture anchors. Procedure time: 1–2 hours.
Discharge & Rehab Begin
Same-day discharge possible (1-night stay recommended). Minimal bracing. 12-week free sports rehab program (KakaoTalk or Shoulder Care app) starts the following day.
How is our surgery different from other clinics?
No General Anesthesia
All arthroscopic surgeries performed with BPB + sedation. No risk of general anesthesia complications. Safe for elderly patients.
Minimal Bracing
Non-surgical expertise applied to post-operative care. Significantly shorter brace duration compared to typical clinics.
12-Week Free Sports Rehab
12-week professional rehabilitation program provided at no cost after surgery. Available via KakaoTalk or the Shoulder Care app anytime, anywhere.
Regeneten Augmentation Available
When bursal-side thinning is present, Regeneten collagen patch augmentation can be combined with repair in the same surgical session.
Evidence for Rotator Cuff Repair + Regeneten Augmentation
Reference — Meta-Analysis
A 2024 meta-analysis in the Journal of Shoulder and Elbow Surgery found that Regeneten-augmented rotator cuff repair achieved a full-thickness retear rate of only 8.3%, with significantly improved structural integrity compared to repair alone.
Meta-analysis: bioinductive collagen implant augmentation for rotator cuff repair. J Shoulder Elbow Surg. 2024. PMID 38942225 ↗Reference — Meta-Analysis
A 2023 meta-analysis in Frontiers in Surgery (8 studies, 674 patients) found that bone marrow stimulation (BMS) augmentation of rotator cuff repair significantly reduced retear ratescompared to repair alone (P < 0.0001).
Meta-analysis: bone marrow stimulation for rotator cuff repair (674 patients). Front Surg. 2023. PMID 36896263 ↗Rotator Cuff Repair Surgery Q&A
How long is recovery after rotator cuff repair surgery?+
Is rotator cuff repair covered by Korean health insurance?+
Can a failed rotator cuff repair be redone?+
When can I use my arm again after shoulder surgery?+
Book Your Rotator Cuff Surgery Consultation
No General Anesthesia · Minimal Bracing · 12-Week Free Sports Rehab