Tenocyte Therapy is a newer, alternative treatment to Rotator Cuff Surgery that’s available across Australia, New Zealand & Hong Kong.
The data that is present has shown some interesting results. We go into more detail below.
What are Tenocyte Treatments?
Tenocyte treatment aims to help damaged tendons heal by using a person’s own tendon cells, called tenocytes.
Tenocytes are mature tendon cells. Their normal job in the body is to:
Keep tendons strong
Maintain tendon structure
Help tendons repair everyday wear and tear
Tenocyte Treatment process for Rotator Cuff Injuries
Tenocyte treatment for rotator cuff injuries involves taking a small sample of a patient’s tendon cells, growing those cells in a laboratory, and injecting them back into the damaged shoulder tendon.
01
Tendon biopsy
A very small piece of healthy tendon is taken from the patient.
This is usually taken from a tendon outside the shoulder.
The procedure is done under local anaesthetic.
02
Tendon cells are grown in a laboratory
Tendon cells (tenocytes) are separated from the tissue.
The cells are cultured and multiplied in a laboratory.
This process takes 3-4 weeks
03
Preparation for injection
Before treatment:
Cells are checked for quality.
Standard blood tests are done to rule out infection.
04
Injection into the rotator cuff tendon
The patient’s own cultured tenocytes are injected.
The injection is placed directly into the damaged rotator cuff tendon.
Ultrasound guidance is used to ensure accurate placement.
05
Rehabilitation and follow-up
A structured physiotherapy program follows the injection.
Progress is monitored using symptoms, function, and sometimes MRI scans.
Important things to know
This is a personalised treatment using the patient’s own cells.
It is not a same-day injection due to the cell culture period.
Recovery depends on rehabilitation, not just the injection alone.
How does Tenocyte Therapy work for Rotator cuff Injuries?
Tenocyte therapy doesn’t rebuild the rotator cuff from scratch, you’re not ”growing” new tendons. Instead, it places healthy tendon cells into weak or damaged areas to help the existing tendon stabilise, organise itself better and cope with load over time
The Mechanism of Injury
When a rotator cuff tendon is injured or worn down over time, the tendon cells stop working normally. Instead of keeping the tendon strong and organised:
Healthy tenocytes are lost or reduced in the shoulder
The remaining tendon cells become stressed and dysfunctional
Collagen fibres inside the tendon lose their normal alignment
The tendon becomes weaker, thicker and less able to handle load
In chronic rotator cuff tendinopathy, this damage does not fully heal on its own, even with rest or pain relief.
In partial rotator cuff tears, the tendon is still attached, but the damaged area contains fewer healthy tendon cells and weaker tissue around the tear.
How Tenocyte Therapy Helps
Tenocyte therapy is based on the idea that: If a damaged tendon has lost healthy tendon cells, adding back functioning tenocytes may help the tendon stabilise and function better over time.
Studies suggest the injected tenocytes are intended to:
Repopulate areas of the rotator cuff tendon that have lost healthy tendon cells
Support normal tendon cell activity
Help improve collagen organisation within the tendon
Reduce ongoing tendon degeneration over time
But it’s important to note, the data we do have is mainly from real world case studies & there hasn’t been large scale clinical trials on this yet.
Is Tenocyte Therapy proven to work for Rotator Cuff Tears and Rotator Cuff Tendinopathy?
For rotator cuff tears/tendinopathy, early evidence from real-world case studies has shown encouraging results, but Tenocyte therapy has not been proven in large, high-quality clinical trials.
Based on human case studies done in Australia:
Patients reported:
Less pain
Better shoulder function
Improved ability to return to daily activities or sport
Some cases showed improvement in tendon appearance on MRI
No serious safety problems were reported in these small studies
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BUT:
There are no large clinical trials
No randomized or placebo-controlled studies
No direct comparisons with:
SurgeryPhysiotherapy alonePRP or other injections
Benefits of Tenocyte Therapy for Rotator Cuff Injuries
Potential benefits of Tenocyte therapy for rotator cuff injuries are its a minimally invasive treatment that may help some patients avoid surgery and recover with less disruption than surgical repair.
Potential benefits compared to surgery
Based on how tenocyte therapy is delivered and what was reported in early studies, potential benefits include:
✓
Minimally invasive
Uses injections rather than open or arthroscopic surgery.
✓
No surgical tendon repair
Does not involve cutting, stitching, or reattaching the rotator cuff tendon.
✓
Shorter initial recovery burden
No hospital stay. No surgical wounds. Less immediate post-procedure trauma.
✓
May help delay or avoid surgery for some patients
Particularly in chronic cases where standard treatments have failed.
This does not mean recovery is instant or that surgery is never needed.
Rehabilitation is still required, and some patients may eventually need surgery if symptoms persist or worsen.
Are there any side effects of getting Tenocyte Injections for my Rotator Cuff Injury?
Safety Profile
Based on early human case studies, no serious side effects have been reported from tenocyte injections for rotator cuff injuries.
You may get mild, temporary side effects such as pain at the injection site but this goes away after a short period of time.
Considerations
A potential risk is paying for treatment & it not working for you in the way you expected.
Is Tenocyte Therapy a real alternative to Rotator Cuff Surgery?
Tenocyte therapy may help some patients with Rotator cuff injuries avoid or delay surgery, but it cannot replace surgery when the tendon is structurally fully torn or detached.
If the rotator cuff tendon is completely torn off the bone, your doctor might tell you tenocyte therapy is not a substitute for surgery.
As long as it hasn’t got to this stage, Tenocyte Therapy could be a real option for you to avoid surgery, as long as you’re open to experimental treatments.
Which countries is Tenocyte Therapy available in?
Tenocyte Therapy is available across Australia, New Zealand & Hong Kong, but it’s more common in Australia as of January 2026.
Other Alternative Treatments to surgery for Rotator Cuff Injuries
Stem Cell Therapy is another alternative treatment to surgery for Rotator Cuff Injuries. It’s similar in process to Tenocyte Therapy but it’s important not to get the two confused.
To read more about Stem Cell Treatment for Rotator Cuff injuries, read our article on Stem Cells for Tendon Issues.
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We break down complex information into clear, honest guidance. When you’re ready, we can connect you with verified clinics that meet your needs, in the right location & often with exclusive discounts.
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If you want to talk, fill out our form here & our personal concierge team will reach out.
Can you repair a tendon without Surgery?
Regenerative treatments like tenocyte therapy, PRP & stem cell therapy may help support healing and improve function to avoid surgery, but they cannot repair or re-attach a fully torn tendon without surgery.
How does tenocyte therapy compare to hyaluronic acid for Rotator Cuff Tears?
Tenocyte therapy tries to help the tendon heal, while hyaluronic acid mainly helps joints move more smoothly and feel less painful.
Hyaluronic acid does not repair tendon damage, but tenocyte therapy is designed to support tendon health.
