Rotator cuff tears are among the most common shoulder injuries in adults — particularly those over 50. While surgery is appropriate for large, complete, retracted tears, many rotator cuff tears are partial, degenerative, or occur in patients who are not ideal surgical candidates. BMAC stem cell therapy offers the most potent non-surgical regenerative option — delivering your own living bone marrow stem cells directly into the damaged tendon tissue.
Dr. William Bonner, a credentialed Regenexx network provider in Miami, performs ultrasound-guided BMAC injections for rotator cuff tears with precision image guidance to ensure cells reach the exact tissue that needs them.
The rotator cuff tendons are poorly vascularized at the critical footprint where most tears occur. BMAC directly addresses this deficit by delivering:
Many clinics in Miami advertise ‘stem cell therapy’ using amniotic or umbilical cord products that independent research has shown to contain no viable living stem cells. As a credentialed Regenexx network provider, Dr. Bonner uses your own living bone marrow stem cells — harvested and processed the same day — under strict evidence-based protocols backed by the largest regenerative orthopedics outcome registry in the world. Regenexx is the only organization with this combination of proprietary lab processing, published clinical research, and rigorous provider credentialing.
| Option | Best For | Key Advantage | Key Limitation |
| PRP | Small partial tears, tendinopathy | Less invasive; strong evidence for early pathology | Less potent than BMAC for larger tears |
| BMAC Stem Cell Therapy | Larger partial tears, failed PRP, degenerative full-thickness | Living stem cells + growth factors — most potent non-surgical option | More involved; bone marrow aspiration required |
| Surgery | Large complete tears with retraction | Definitive mechanical repair | Long recovery; surgical risks |
| Physical Therapy | All stages as complement | Essential for supporting musculature | Cannot repair structural tears alone |
Bone marrow is aspirated from the posterior iliac crest under local anesthetic and fluoroscopic guidance, concentrated in-office using Regenexx protocols, then injected into the hip joint under fluoroscopic guidance with contrast confirmation. Full procedure time including processing is approximately 2.5 to 3.5 hours in a single visit.
Most patients resume light daily activities within 1–3 days. Improvement develops gradually over 6–12 weeks, with continued benefit over 3–6 months.
BMAC is most effective for partial tears. Large, complete, retracted tears typically require surgical repair. Many partial tears — and full-thickness tears in older or lower-demand patients — experience meaningful improvement with BMAC. Dr. Bonner will review your MRI and give you an honest recommendation.
PRP is excellent for smaller partial tears and tendinopathy. BMAC — with its stem cell component — is preferred for larger partial tears, more extensive degeneration, or when PRP has not provided sufficient improvement.
Many Miami clinics use amniotic or cord products lacking viable stem cells. BMAC uses your own living bone marrow cells processed the same day. As a Regenexx provider, Dr. Bonner follows protocols with more published outcome data than any other regenerative medicine organization.
Under real-time ultrasound guidance — directly into the tear site within the tendon and into the subacromial space. Ultrasound allows Dr. Bonner to visualize the tear and ensure precise delivery.
If you are dealing with shoulder pain or a rotator cuff tear and want to explore whether BMAC therapy is right for you, we are here to help.
Contact our Miami clinic to schedule an appointment with Dr. Bonner, or book online through ZocDoc for available appointment times (if you do not see availability, please reach out to us directly at 786-522-4959).
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