An orthopaedic surgery is only as successful as the strength of the muscle tissue, says Dr. Gregory Colbath, an orthopaedic surgeon with Spartanburg Regional Healthcare System. 

That’s why Spartanburg Regional has adopted new technology into its rotator cuff procedures to advance the patient’s healing process and provide new strength to the body. 

Dr. Colbath has already seen early signs of success in using the CONMED BioBrace mesh implant for the treatment of rotator cuff tears. 

“A rotator cuff surgery can do the best job in the world, and the patient can do everything they need to do, and yet the tissue can still fail,” Dr. Colbath said. “I think this patch will provide so much benefit.” 

This innovative device uses a bio-synthetic material to allow physicians to reinforce soft tissue repair to the rotator cuff. The collagen sponge implant is highly porous to promote strength, load-sharing, healing and natural re-absorption. 

“Sometimes the tissue quality is not very good,” Dr. Colbath said. “You can put the best suture through it and anchor and secure it, but if the tissue does not have good strength, there is a higher rate of failure or re-tear or a need for a revision.” 

Dr. Colbath said he began using the new technology about three years ago and continues to see signs of success in recovering patients. 

To quantify the success of the product, Spartanburg Regional is now participating in a two-year research study with the goal of enrolling 300 patients nationally. 

Dr. Colbath and a team of providers have been overseeing multiple checkpoints with patients and connecting them with physical therapists and research coordinators to ensure exceptional patient care as they continue in their health journey. 

Improving the rate of long-term success from orthopaedic surgeries is both a passion and goal for Dr. Colbath, he said. 

“It’s been a 15-year quest searching for something like this to get these repair rates to a higher level,” he said. 

To learn more about how Spartanburg Regional is leading our community in medical developments or to see more of Dr. Colbath’s innovative efforts toward patient care, visit SpartanburgRegional.com/innovations.