Smith+Nephew strengthens shoulder repair portfolio with acquisition of sports medicine business Integrity Orthopaedics and its novel Tendon Seam™ rotator cuff repair technology
January 12, 2026 – Smith+Nephew (LSE: SN, NYSE: SNN), the global medical technology company, today announces the acquisition of Integrity Orthopaedics, a US‑based early‑stage commercial developer of Tendon Seam™, an innovative rotator cuff repair (RCR) system designed to significantly reduce re‑tear rates and improve patient outcomes.
The acquisition represents a meaningful step in delivering Smith+Nephew’s RISE strategy to accelerate growth through strategic investment and portfolio leadership, and will be an important building block in our ambition to become the global leader in Sports Medicine.
RCR is a substantial and growing treatment area, with approximately 500,000 procedures performed annually in the US and an estimated market value of $875 million1. Yet traditional surgical techniques have historically suffered from high structural failure rates, averaging 20–40%2.
Tendon Seam™ directly addresses this unmet clinical need. Its patented micro‑anchors, continuous suture, individually locked stitches, and integrated implantation instrument are designed to deliver stronger repairs, accelerated patient recovery, lower re‑tear rates, and a simplified surgical technique. Early clinical experience indicates low re‑tear rates, reduced sling times and shorter procedures compared with standard methods3. The system received 510(k) clearance in 2023 and is indicated for reattachment of soft tissue to bone, including tendons, ligaments, and joint capsules.
Integrity Orthopaedics was founded in 2020 and is headquartered in Maple Plain, MN, US. Its founders include Tom Westling, co-founder of Rotation Medical, the developer of the REGENETEN◊ Bioinductive Implant, which was acquired by Smith+Nephew in 2017.
