Under the direction of CEO and Co-Founder Christina Goudy, Reach Orthopaedics is addressing a significant gap in orthopedic care by developing a cutting-edge implant specifically designed to treat middle-aged patients with massive irreparable rotator cuff tears. The innovative solution targets those who are too young for a joint replacement but need a reliable treatment option to maintain an active lifestyle.
Reach Orthopaedics’ story begins with its founder, Dr. David Johnston, an orthopedic surgeon specializing in upper extremities in Nova Scotia. Dr. Johnston spent several years grappling with a common yet challenging problem in his practice: how to effectively treat middle-aged patients with massive rotator cuff tears.
Christina Goudy explained, “Dr. Johnston consistently encountered this issue, as the available treatments were typically indicated for much older patients, often in their 70s. Meanwhile, soft tissue repairs, which might work for younger individuals, simply didn’t yield the same results in middle-aged patients due to reduced healing capacity.”
Dr. Johnston’s dissatisfaction with the lack of effective solutions led him to think creatively about how to address the unmet needs of this patient population. Goudy recalled, “For several years, he’d been considering the implant design, a subacromial spacer with a fixation arm to the scapular spine.” This concept provided the foundation for Reach Orthopaedics. Goudy explained, “Initially, some patent filings were made. In 2018, the company received grant funding through a local accelerator program. This was when Reach Orthopaedics finally had the ability to bring on someone with business expertise, and I’ve been with the company ever since.”
Rotator cuff injuries, particularly massive tears, are far more common than many realize. Goudy explained, “Between 20 and 25% of the general population over 50 has a rotator cuff tear, regardless of whether or not they know it. In terms of massive rotator cuff tears, some studies suggest that 40% of all rotator cuff tears are massive in nature.”
Treatment options for middle-aged patients (~40-70) are limited. Soft tissue repair techniques have a high incidence of incomplete healing, especially as patients’ healing capacities decline with age. Meanwhile, reverse shoulder arthroplasty remains too drastic and invasive for younger, active individuals.
“There’s currently no standard of care for these middle-aged patients,” Goudy emphasized. Patients in this age group—and their surgeons—are often left in a difficult position, seeking a treatment that balances pain relief with maintaining shoulder function without having to undergo an invasive procedure indicated for much older individuals.
Reach Orthopaedics is developing a breakthrough solution with its subacromial spacer implant designed to help restore shoulder alignment, thus increasing mobility and function while eliminating chronic pain. Goudy explained, “We expect it to be a minimally invasive surgery. The procedure involves a deltoid split, allowing for the insertion of the device into the shoulder joint.”
Once inserted, the device sits in the subacromial space, just above the humeral head and under the acromion. “It’s secured in place through fixation to the scapular spine,” Goudy described. “This restores the humeral head position and restabilizes the shoulder joint. In addition, the device’s subacromial spacer plate prevents the humeral head from articulating against the acromion, helping to prevent further damage.”
Unlike a reverse shoulder arthroplasty, where you have to remove all damaged bone, this approach doesn’t require the removal of any bone. Goudy emphasized the importance of preserving the patient’s anatomy: “If a patient does require a reverse shoulder when they’re, say, 80 years old, they have that option because they still have their entire shoulder anatomy intact.” This innovation provides a much-needed bridge between soft tissue repair and total joint replacement.
Reach Orthopaedics has achieved several major milestones as it works toward validating its technology. In June of 2023, the company secured FDA Breakthrough Device Designation. The company has also completed successful cadaver studies and is patent-protected in the United States, Canada, and Europe.
Goudy shared, “We’re currently raising a seed funding round so we can move to our feasibility study. We’re also looking for a lead investor. Once we have that lead and we’re able to close our financing, we’ll be moving straight into manufacturing and hopefully get that first-in-human study going within the first six months of 2025.”
As the percentage of the global population over the age of 50 continues to grow, the incidence of rotator cuff tears will also increase. According to LSI’s Global Surgical Procedure Volumes database, 1.6 million shoulder arthroscopies were performed worldwide in 2023. These procedures are predominantly performed for the treatment of rotator cuff tears and shoulder instability, with Smith & Nephew estimating that 1.2 million of these procedures (~75%) are for rotator cuff repair. Over a five-year forecast period, LSI projects that shoulder arthroscopies will increase at a CAGR of 3.5%, reaching approximately 1.9 million procedures by 2028.
In evaluating the rotator cuff repair market, LSI estimates that retear rates are significant (30-40%) among patients who have undergone rotator cuff repair. This translates to a substantial unmet need. Major medtech strategics like Smith & Nephew and innovative startups like Reach Orthopaedics are committed to providing solutions that improve clinical outcomes. These endeavors to deliver better solutions are expected to yield results as the burden of rotator cuff tears continues to increase worldwide.
Goudy has been selected to present at LSI USA ‘25 next March 17-21 in front of hundreds of global medical technology companies. Join us in welcoming Goudy to the event in Dana Point, CA, where she will share the latest updates on Reach Orthopaedics’ technology and development.
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