Information for payers and providers in Australia on how Bioinductive Implants can ease the burden of shoulder injury and support better outcomes and wellbeing for patients in Australia.
In Australia, the prevalence of shoulder pain in the general population under 70 years of age has grown dramatically from 7% to 27% over a 20-year period, with lifetime prevalence of shoulder pain reaching 67%.1
In the hospital setting, diseases of the musculoskeletal system and connective tissue were responsible for 745,050 inpatient admissions across both public and private hospitals in Australia in 2021-2022. Moreover, procedures on the musculoskeletal system accounted for 87% of emergency admissions involving surgery in public hospitals during the same period.2
The REGENETEN Implant is a collagen-based bioinductive implant that can be used to treat both partial- and full-thickness rotator cuff tears.
Rotator cuff disease is a painful, progressive condition resulting from damage and/or injury to one or more of the 4 tendons of the rotator cuff.
Patients with rotator cuff disease usually report pain and weakness in the arm, leading to impaired function and mobility.1 Degenerative damage is predominantly the result of continual wear and tear, while acute injury may be caused by trauma such as sudden heavy lifting, or a fall onto an outstretched arm.3
Rotator cuff disease significantly impairs patients' quality of life and functional capacity. Studies have shown that patients with rotator cuff tears report lower health-related quality of life scores and functional scores compared to the general population.
The average EuroQol-5 Dimensions (EQ-5D) score for measuring quality of life in patients with rotator cuff pathologies was reported as 0.78, significantly lower than the US population norm of 0.83 for adults aged 55-64.3 Functional impairment is also substantial, as evidenced by lower scores on standardised assessments. Patients with partial-thickness rotator cuff tears had a mean preoperative Constant-Murley Score (CMS) of 51.6, compared to population norms of 73-90 for adults aged 51-60.3 Similarly, the mean preoperative American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons (ASES) score was 46.8 for these patients, substantially below the population norm of 92.2.3
The impact on patients include difficulty sleeping, driving, getting dressed, doing their hair, maintaining household tasks, working, and engaging in leisure activities. The literature and workers compensations frameworks highlight the impact these symptoms can have on patients if symptoms persist or if functional capacity does not improve to the level necessary for their lives.
The economic burden of rotator cuff disease and its treatment is substantial. Direct healthcare costs increase by 78% (from $16,771 to $29,782 per patient annually) following rotator cuff tear diagnosis.5 This significant rise in costs, coupled with the limitations of current treatments, underscores the need for innovative therapies that can promote tendon healing, reduce re-tear rates, and enable faster recovery while decreasing the overall economic burden on both patients and the healthcare system.
In Australia, rotator cuff disease is initially managed with conservative treatments, including rest, NSAIDs, physical therapy, and corticosteroid injections. If these fail to provide relief or restore function after 3-6 months,12 surgical intervention may be considered. While surgery is considered only after the patient has not responded to conservative treatment for 3 to 6 months, it may be given particular consideration for patients who rely heavily on their rotator cuff and have a greater need of recovery – whether due to work, activity level, lifestyle, or age. Common surgical approaches include:
Despite providing some relief, these treatments have limitations:
This collagen-based, bioinductive implant is designed to treat various stages of rotator cuff disease, including both partial-thickness and full-thickness tears. REGENETEN supports the body's natural healing process by inducing new tendon-like tissue growth and is compatible with minimally invasive surgical techniques.24
The REGENETEN Implant is a highly porous bioengineered collagen scaffold made from purified type I collagen fibres.25 When rehydrated, the implant is about the size of a postage stamp, making it suitable for arthroscopic application.26 The implant works through two key mechanisms: load reduction, where the physical nature of the implant augments the remaining tendon, reducing stress on the damaged area; and tissue induction, where the bioinductive properties of the implant induce the growth of new tendon-like tissue at the joint.27 The REGENETEN Implant is typically applied arthroscopically, adding only about 10 minutes to the standard rotator cuff repair surgery time.28 It gradually resorbs over time, being completely replaced by native tissue within 6 months.29
The safety and efficacy of the REGENETEN Bioinductive Implant have been demonstrated through multiple clinical studies, including randomised controlled trials, observational studies, and registry data. The safety profile is robust, with no foreign body or inflammatory reactions reported in in vivo and clinical studies.30 Histological assessment showed no signs of inflammatory, scarring, or ischemic changes at 6 months post-implantation,31 and complete resorption of the implant within 6 months was confirmed by human biopsy and in vivo sampling.32
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