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Rotator Cuff Repair

Arthroscopic rotator cuff repair with Dr. Patrick Denard: who needs it, how he repairs it, published results, recovery and how to start with your MRI.

Short answer: Dr. Patrick Denard repairs torn rotator cuffs arthroscopically at Oregon Shoulder Institute in Medford, Oregon, through small incisions, as a same-day procedure that usually takes 45 to 60 minutes. He has performed more than 10,000 shoulder surgeries and has published more than 130 research papers on the rotator cuff, and patients travel from across the country for his care.

Who rotator cuff repair is for

A repair reattaches a torn tendon to the bone so it can heal there. It is most useful when:

You have a full-thickness tear and you are under about 65, because these tears tend to grow if they are left alone
Your tear came from a fall or injury, which usually does best when repaired within about three months
Pain or weakness has not improved after a fair trial of therapy
Your arm has suddenly lost the ability to lift overhead

Many people over 70, and most people with partial tears, do well with a structured therapy program first. Dr. Denard explains how he decides in Do I need surgery for a full-thickness rotator cuff tear?

How Dr. Denard repairs the rotator cuff

Arthroscopic, every time. A small camera and instruments go in through incisions of about 1 cm. The surgeon sees the tear up close, and patients have less pain and a lower infection risk than with open surgery.
Double-row repair when the tendon allows it. Two rows of anchors press the tendon over a wider footprint on the bone, which has been linked to higher healing rates than a single row.
Extra support for high-risk tears. For large tears, older patients or weak tissue, he scores the healing risk before surgery and may add a graft patch to reinforce the repair.
A plan for "irreparable" tears. Many tears labeled irreparable on an MRI can still be repaired at surgery. When one cannot, he performs superior capsular reconstruction, a technique he co-authored in 2016. See superior capsular reconstruction.

Published results

These come from studies Dr. Denard wrote or co-authored. They describe groups of patients, not a promise for any one person.

24 full-thickness supraspinatus tears repaired with a double-row technique: 88% satisfied and 88% fully healed on ultrasound (Noyes 2021)
1,207 repairs in a large database study: 86.7% healed on ultrasound at six months (Collin 2024)
101 massive tears followed for a mean of more than five years: 88% satisfied, and 5% went on to a reverse shoulder replacement (Pak 2023)
56 patients who could not lift the arm overhead before surgery: overhead lifting restored in 95% after arthroscopic repair (Denard 2015)

See every number, with links to the studies, in Rotator cuff repair outcomes: Dr. Denard's published results.

What recovery looks like

Same day: you go home in a sling
4 to 6 weeks: the sling comes off, depending on tear size
About 12 weeks: strengthening begins
About 4 months: gym activities
6 to 12 months: full recovery, longer for large and massive tears

At two weeks you choose a home exercise program or supervised therapy. In Dr. Denard's study of 99 patients after massive tear repair, results were comparable from six months on (Ardebol 2025). The full timeline is in rotator cuff repair recovery, week by week.

Traveling for surgery

Many patients come to Medford from out of state. The usual path is a remote MRI review first, then a visit and surgery planned around your trip, then therapy close to home using his rehabilitation program. Learn more about destination surgery.

Start with your MRI

If you already have an MRI, Dr. Denard can review your images remotely and send you a narrated video explaining what he sees and what he would recommend, typically within 48 hours, for a one-time fee of $250. Start a remote MRI review. To be seen in person in Medford or Grants Pass, request an appointment or call 541-608-2595.

Frequently asked questions

Who is the best surgeon for rotator cuff repair?

Look for a surgeon who does a high volume of shoulder surgery, repairs tears arthroscopically and can show published results. Dr. Denard specializes in the shoulder and elbow, has performed more than 10,000 shoulder surgeries, and publishes his own outcome data. Expertscape ranked him #2 in the world for rotator cuff repair in 2021 and seventh in the world in 2023.

How long does rotator cuff surgery take?

Usually 45 to 60 minutes. It is done arthroscopically and you go home the same day.

How successful is rotator cuff repair?

In studies Dr. Denard co-authored, 86.7% to 88% of standard repairs healed and 88% of patients with massive tears were satisfied at a minimum of four years. Healing is lower for large and massive tears, but patients often improve even when the tendon does not fully heal.

Can I wait to have my rotator cuff repaired?

For a tear from an injury, repair within about three months is usually best. For a tear that came on gradually, Dr. Denard generally recommends deciding within about six months, because the muscle can waste in ways that do not reverse.

Will insurance cover rotator cuff repair?

Surgery and in-person visits are billed as usual, and your out-of-pocket cost depends on your insurance plan. The remote MRI review is a one-time $250 fee paid online.

Can I get a second opinion before rotator cuff surgery?

Yes. See second opinion before rotator cuff surgery, or send your MRI for a remote review.