Clinical and Structural Evaluations of Rotator Cuff Repair With and Without Added Platelet-Rich Plasma at 5-Year Follow-up: A Prospective Randomized Study

Arthroscopic rotator cuff repair combined with platelet-rich plasma products can reduce the rate of retearing and improve clinical outcomes: A meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

BACKGROUND

Although several studies on the potential benefits of protein-rich plasma (PRP) therapy for rotator cuff injuries have been published, the results have been conflicting. Therefore, this study aimed to determine whether PRP is beneficial for the prevention of retears after arthroscopic rotator cuff repair (ARCR).

METHODS

Two reviewers conducted independent literature searches based on the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) comparing a PRP treatment group with a control group were included. The quality of evidence was assessed using the Cochrane Collaboration Risk of Bias Tool. Clinical outcomes were compared using the risk ratio (RR) for dichotomous variables and weighted mean difference (WMD) for continuous variables. Statistical significance was set at P < .05.

RESULTS

This review included 21 RCTs (1359 patients). Significant results were noted in favor of PRP treatment compared with controls based on retearing rates (16.5% vs 23.6%, respectively; P = .002) and the Constant score in the short term (WMD: 1.98; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.27-3.70; I2 = 0%; P = .02), medium term and long term (WMD: 2.56 [95% CI: 1.57-3.55]; I2 = 2%; P < .001); the University of California, Los Angeles score in the short term (WMD: 1.14 [95% CI: 0.43-1.85]; I2 = 25%; P = .002) but not in the medium and long term (WMD: 0.66 [95% CI: -0.16 to 1.48]; I2 = 57%; P = .11); and the visual analog scale score in the short term (WMD: -0.63 [95% CI: -0.83 to-0.43]; I2 = 41%; P < .001), medium and long term (WMD: -0.12 [95% CI: -0.19 to-0.05]; I2 = 0%; P = .008). There was no significant difference in American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons scores between the treatment and control groups in the short term (WMD: -0.48 [95% CI: -2.80 to 1.85]; I2 = 22%; P = .69) or medium and long term (WMD: 0.92 [95% CI: -1.56 to 3.39]; I2 = 40%; P = .47).

CONCLUSION

Intraoperative use of PRP reduces the risk of rotator cuff repair failure, improves clinical outcomes, and reduces recurrence rates.

Efficacy of platelet-rich plasma in rotator cuff repair: systematic review and meta-analysis

OBJECTIVE

To analyze the efficacy and safety after the application of platelet-rich-plasma (PRP) as an adjuvant in arthroscopic rotator cuff repairs.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

A bibliographic search of the literature of prospective studies with level of evidence one or two was carried out from January 2004 to December 2021, including studies that compare the functional and re-tear results after arthroscopic cuff repair rotator with or without PRP.

RESULTS

A total of 281 articles were identified, of which 14 met the inclusion criteria. The overall re-rupture rate was 24%. In the PRP group, a decrease in the re-rupture rate and better functional results were demonstrated, although these differences were not significant.

CONCLUSIONS

Adjuvant treatment with PRP has shown promising results, although there is not yet enough evidence to provide a clear advantage for routine use in clinical practice.

[Translated article] Efficacy of platelet-rich plasma in rotator cuff repair: Systematic review and meta-analysis

OBJECTIVE

To analyse the efficacy and safety after the application of platelet-rich-plasma (PRP) as an adjuvant in arthroscopic rotator cuff repairs.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

A bibliographic search of the literature of prospective studies with level of evidence one or two was carried out from January 2004 to December 2021, including studies that compare the functional and re-tear results after arthroscopic cuff repair rotator with or without PRP.

RESULTS

A total of 281 articles were identified, of which 14 met the inclusion criteria. The overall re-rupture rate was 24%. In the PRP group, a decrease in the re-rupture rate and better functional results were demonstrated, although these differences were not significant.

CONCLUSIONS

Adjuvant treatment with PRP has shown promising results, although there is not yet enough evidence to provide a clear advantage for routine use in clinical practice.

Effect of Platelet-Rich Plasma Dosing for Healing after Arthroscopic Cuff Repair Compared with Surgery Alone: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

INTRODUCTION

Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) has been used for arthroscopic rotator cuff repairs (aRCR), but no studies have addressed the impact of platelet concentration. The primary aim was to evaluate whether the PRP cell concentration has an effect on tendon healing after aRCR compared with surgery alone. The secondary aim was to assess the functional and pain outcomes.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A systematic review was performed with searches in the MEDLINE (PubMed), Scopus, Web of Science, and Cochrane (Central) databases according to Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis guidelines. Metanalytic procedures were performed for randomized controlled trials (RCTs), and a subgroup analysis was used for studies with target (approximately 10 6 cells·μL -1 ) or below-target PRP cellular concentrations (app. 5 × 10 5 cells·μL -1 ) regarding the primary outcome of tendon healing.

RESULTS

This review included 10 studies (8 RCTs) with 342 patients in the aRCR + PRP group and 344 patients with isolated aRCR. The risk of bias was low to intermediate (6/4, respectively). Meta-analysis of the RCT revealed that the aRCR + high-concentration PRP group had an approximately 3.9-fold higher chance of healing than the non-PRP group (odds ratio, 3.89; 95% confidence interval, 1.78-8.44; P = 0.0007). No significant difference in healing was found between the aRCR + low-concentration PRP and non-PRP groups (odds ratio, 2.21; 95% confidence interval, 0.66-7.45; P = 0.2). The Constant-Murley score and University of California Los Angeles scores were significantly improved in the aRCR + PRP groups with more than 12 months of follow-up, and no significant differences were found consistently for the American Shoulder and Elbow Society and visual analog scale scores.

CONCLUSIONS

This study highlights that a PRP cell concentration close to the target (10 6 cells·μL -1 ) of patients with aRCR may improve their healing and functional outcomes and that dosing may be potentially useful in therapy.

Arthroscopic Surgery Combined With Platelet-Rich Plasma Does Not Significantly Improve Pain, Function, Complications, and Retear Rate Compared With Arthroscopic Surgery Alone for Full-Thickness Rotator Cuff Tears: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

PURPOSE

To evaluate the effectiveness and safety of arthroscopic surgery combined with platelet-rich plasma (PRP) compared with arthroscopic surgery alone in the treatment of patients with full-thickness rotator cuff tears.

METHODS

The Cochrane Library, PubMed, Embase, Scopus, EBSCO, Web of Science, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, and Wanfang Database were systematically searched from inception to November 2023. Subject words combined with free words were used to collect randomized controlled trials focusing on arthroscopic surgery combined with PRP in the treatment of full-thickness rotator cuff tears. The assessment of evidence quality employed the Cochrane Collaboration risk of bias tool, and data analysis was performed using RevMan 5.3 software.

RESULTS

A total of 9 studies with 537 patients were included. The meta-analysis revealed that compared with the arthroscopic surgery alone group, the summary result of University of California Los Angeles score scores in the arthroscopic combined with PRP group was (mean difference [MD] = 1.08, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.19∼1.97, P = .02), subgroup analysis of surgical suture method visual analog scale (VAS) single-row (MD = -1.00, 95% CI -1.50 to -0.50, P < .0001), VAS double-row (MD = -0.10, 95% CI -0.17 to -0.02, P = .02), and Constant-Murley score single-row (MD = 3.49, 95% CI 0.32∼6.66, P = .03), the difference was statistically significant, and the differences in VAS, Constant-Murley score, and Quick Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand, complications, and retear rate were not statistically significant.

CONCLUSIONS

Patients undergoing arthroscopic repair combined with PRP treatment showed no difference in pain, function, complications, and retear rate compared with those treated with arthroscopic surgery alone.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Level II, systematic review and meta-analysis of Level I and II evidence.

Most Orthopaedic Platelet-Rich Plasma Investigations Don't Report Protocols and Composition: An Updated Systematic Review

PURPOSE

To systematically review the literature to assess the heterogeneity of platelet-rich plasma (PRP) preparation and composition reporting for the treatment of musculoskeletal/orthopaedic pathologies.

METHODS

A systematic review was performed by searching PubMed, the Cochrane Library, and Embase to identify Level I and Level II studies from 2016 to 2022 that evaluated the use of PRP therapy for musculoskeletal pathologies. The search phrase used was "platelet-rich plasma clinical studies." Studies were assessed based on their reporting of the PRP preparation methods and reporting of PRP composition.

RESULTS

One hundred twenty-four studies (in 120 articles) met inclusion criteria for analysis. Of these studies, 15 (12.1%) provided comprehensive reporting, including a clear, well-described, and reproducible preparation protocol that future investigators can follow. Thirty-three studies (26.6%) quantitatively reported the final PRP product composition.

CONCLUSIONS

Among the studies using PRP for the treatment of musculoskeletal/orthopaedic pathologies, less than 20% provided a clear, well-described, and reproducible PRP preparation protocol, and only one-fourth of studies reported on the final PRP product composition.

CLINICAL RELEVANCE

A diverse current reporting of PRP composition between studies provides a high heterogeneity of the term "PRP," which becomes a limitation for a comparison of studies using PRP.

MESENCHYMAL CELLS IN ROTATOR CUFF REPAIR - TECHNIQUE DESCRIPTION AND CASE REPORTS

Objective

To describe a protocol of obtention of mesenchymal stem cells and to report their use as a biological adjuvant in three patients undergoing arthroscopic rotator cuff repair.

Methods

Case series of patients who underwent arthroscopic repair of isolated full-thickness supraspinatus tear using mesenchymal stem cells obtained from the bone marrow as a biological adjuvant. All patients were operated on at the same institution, by a surgeon with 13 years of experience. The cells were applied at the end of the procedure, at the tendon-bone interface, at an approximate concentration of 2,000,000 mesenchymal cells/mm3 and a total volume of 5 ml.

Results

All patients improved with the procedure, with one excellent and two good results. All cases overcame the minimally important clinical difference. All cases reached tendon healing, without partial or complete re-tears. We observed no complications.

Conclusion

Arthroscopic rotator cuff repair with added mesenchymal cells obtained from bone marrow and submitted to a cell expansion process led to good functional results and healing in all cases in the sample, with no complications. Level of Evidence IV, Case Series.

Efficacy of platelet-rich plasma and platelet-rich fibrin in arthroscopic rotator cuff repair: A systematic review and meta-analysis

OBJECTIVE

Basic scientific studies have demonstrated positive effects of platelet-rich therapies, such as platelet-rich plasma (PRP) and platelet-rich fibrin (PRF), on tendon repair. However, clinical evidence indicating improved prognosis is controversial. In this study, we aimed to determine whether augmentation of arthroscopic rotator cuff repair with PRP and PRF improves outcomes compared to arthroscopic repair alone.

LITERATURE SURVEY

PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane library databases were comprehensively searched for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) published until June 2022 according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. No language restriction was applied.

METHODOLOGY

The primary outcomes were the rate of repeat tears after arthroscopic rotator cuff repair (retear rate) and clinical function scores (Constant-Murley Score, University of California, Los Angeles Score), and the extracted data were assessed for quality. Statistical analyses were performed using Review manager 5.3, and p < .05 was considered statistically significant.

SYNTHESIS

Ten RCTs with 628 patients were included. The results showed that augmenting surgery with PRP reduces retear rates compared to surgery alone (risk ratio [RR] = 0.40, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.23-0.69, p = .001), whereas PRF has no effect on retear rates (p = .92). Regarding clinical function, PRP improves Constant-Murley scores (mean difference [MD] = 2.03, 95% CI 0.13-3.93, p = .04) and University of California, Los Angeles scores (MD = 1.30, 95% CI 0.36-2.24, p = .007), whereas PRF improves only Constant-Murley scores (MD = 3.93, 95% CI 1.50-6.36, p = .002). However, these differences were small and below the minimum clinically important difference threshold.

CONCLUSIONS

This study showed that compared to arthroscopic rotator cuff repair alone, the application of PRP in arthroscopic rotator cuff repair reduces retear rate and improves clinical function scores, whereas the application of PRF has no clinically meaningful benefit. The small number and heterogeneity of studies as well as methodological limitations and risk of bias limit confidence in the true effect.

Rotator Cuff Augmentation: Its Role and Best Practices

Rotator cuff tears are a common source of pain and impairment in the shoulder. Healing of the rotator cuff tendons following repair has been associated with improved patient outcomes. While there have been many technical improvements in surgical techniques for rotator cuff repair, failure rates are still surprisingly high. Augmentation of these repairs has been shown to help with fixation biomechanics as well as healing rates. The described types of augments include autograft, allograft, xenograft, and synthetic options. This report reviews the commonly available types of augments and some of the outcomes associated with their use.

Stem cell-based therapeutic strategies for rotator cuff tendinopathy

Rotator cuff tendinopathy is a common musculoskeletal disorder that imposes significant health and economic burden. Stem cell therapy has brought hope for tendon healing in patients with final stage rotator cuff tendinopathy. Some clinical trials have confirmed the effectiveness of stem cell therapy for rotator cuff tendinopathy, but its application has not been promoted and approved. There are still many issues that should be solved prior to using stem cell therapy in clinical applications. The optimal source and dose of stem cells for rotator cuff tendinopathy should be determined. We also proposed novel prospective approaches that can overcome cell population heterogeneity and standardize patient types for stem cell applications.

The translational potential of this article

This review explores the optimal sources of stem cells for rotator cuff tendinopathy and the principles for selecting stem cell dosages. Key strategies are provided for stem cell population standardization and recipient selection.

A network meta-analysis of arthroscopic rotator cuff repair

OBJECTIVE

Rotator cuff tear is a common shoulder injury that often leads to serious limitations in daily life. Herein, a network Meta-analysis using frequency theory was performed to evaluate the clinical outcomes of five rotator cuff repair techniques, including single-row repair, double-row repair, suture bridge repair, platelet-rich plasma therapy, and bone marrow stimulation, thus guiding clinical decision-making on rotator cuff repair.

METHODS

PubMed, EMbase, The Cochrane Library, and Web of Science were searched for randomized controlled trials and cohort studies comparing rotator cuff repair techniques published from inception to May 2022. Combined analysis and quality assessment were performed using software STATA15.1 and Review Manager5.3.

RESULTS

A total of 51 articles were finally included, including 27 randomized controlled trials and 24 cohort studies. Results from the network Meta-analysis showed that: (1) In terms of the American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons score, platelet-rich plasma therapy, double-row repair, bone marrow stimulation, and single-row repair were significantly better than suture bridge repair. (2) In terms of Constant score, bone marrow stimulation was significantly better than double-row repair, single-row repair, and suture bridge repair. (3) In terms of visual analog scale score, platelet-rich plasma therapy was significantly better than double-row repair and suture bridge repair. (4) In terms of the Shoulder Rating Scale of the University of California at Los Angeles score, platelet-rich plasma therapy and double-row repair were relatively better but not significantly different from the other treatments. (5) In terms of the risk of re-tear, the re-tear rate of platelet-rich plasma therapy and double-row repair was significantly lower than that of single-row repair and suture bridge repair.

CONCLUSION

Based on the results of network Meta-analysis and surface under the cumulative ranking, platelet-rich plasma therapy, bone marrow stimulation, and double-row repair have good overall rehabilitation effects. It is recommended to choose appropriate repair techniques as per the actual clinical situation.

Orthobiologics: a review

PURPOSE

The use of biologic materials in orthopaedics (orthobiologics) has gained significant attention over the past years. To enhance the body of the related literature, this review article is aimed at summarizing these novel biologic therapies in orthopaedics and at discussing their multiple clinical implementations and outcomes.

METHODS

This review of the literature presents the methods, clinical applications, impact, cost-effectiveness, and outcomes, as well as the current indications and future perspectives of orthobiologics, namely, platelet-rich plasma, mesenchymal stem cells, bone marrow aspirate concentrate, growth factors, and tissue engineering.

RESULTS

Currently available studies have used variable methods of research including biologic materials as well as patient populations and outcome measurements, therefore making comparison of studies difficult. Key features for the study and use of orthobiologics include minimal invasiveness, great healing potential, and reasonable cost as a nonoperative treatment option. Their clinical applications have been described for common orthopaedic pathologies such as osteoarthritis, articular cartilage defects, bone defects and fracture nonunions, ligament injuries, and tendinopathies.

CONCLUSIONS

Orthobiologics-based therapies have shown noticeable clinical results at the short- and mid-term. It is crucial that these therapies remain effective and stable in the long term. The optimal design for a successful scaffold remains to be further determined.

Evidence for Utilization of Injectable Biologic Augmentation in Primary Rotator Cuff Repair: A Systematic Review of Data From 2010 to 2022

Background

Biologic healing after rotator cuff repair remains a significant challenge. Injectable biologic augmentation may improve tissue quality at the suture-tendon interface.

Purpose

To investigate the effect of injectable biologic supplementation in rotator cuff repair and to assess the quality and adherence to evolving reporting standards.

Study Design

Systematic review; Level of evidence, 3.

Methods

A systematic review was conducted following PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) guidelines. Included were 40 studies: 29 preclinical (in vivo animal models) and 11 clinical. Each clinical study was assessed for quality, risk of bias, and adherence to relevant MIBO (Minimum Information for Studies Evaluating Biologics in Orthopaedics) guidelines. The outcomes of interest were reported load to failure, load to gap, gap size, and stiffness in the preclinical studies, and healing rate and any patient-reported outcome measures in the clinical studies.

Results

Injectables reported included growth factors (eg, transforming growth factor-beta 3, erythropoietin), bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells and adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells (ADSCs), and other agents such as platelet-rich plasma (PRP) and hyaluronic acid. The most common findings for preclinical injectables were increased load to failure (16/29 studies; 55.2%) and improved collagen histological quality (11/29 studies; 37.9%). All 11 clinical studies (10 PRP, 1 ADSC) indicated no adverse events, with similar or improved patient-reported outcomes compared with repairs in the control groups. In 1 study utilizing an innovative delivery technique, a concentrated PRP globule with fibrin matrix was shuttled over a suture to maintain concentrated PRP at the repair site and demonstrated a significant decrease in retears (P = .03) at a 31-month follow-up. A matched-cohort study investigating augmentation with ADSCs demonstrated a significantly lower retear rate in the ADSC-augmented group than the control group at a 28-month follow-up (P < .001). On average, the clinical studies adhered to 66% of relevant MIBO reporting guidelines and had a low risk of bias.

Conclusion

Approximately 83% of preclinical studies found a positive biomechanical or histological effect, with no studies showing an overall negative effect. Clinically, utilization of innovative delivery techniques may reduce the risk of arthroscopic washout of PRP and improve retear rates. ADSCs were shown to reduce retear rates at a 28-month follow-up.

The Effect of PRP Augmentation of Arthroscopic Repairs of Shoulder Rotator Cuff Tears on Postoperative Clinical Scores and Retear Rates: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

The aim of this review and meta-analysis is to assess recent clinical trials concerning the combination of operative treatment of rotator cuff tears and the administration of PRP and its effect on clinical scores and postoperative retear rates. The trials were used to compare the combination of PRP treatment and arthroscopic rotator cuff repair to arthroscopy alone. Twenty-five clinical trials were reviewed. A risk-of-bias assessment was made for all randomized clinical trials included, using the Cochrane collaboration’s tool as well as a quality assessment for all non-randomized studies utilizing the Newcastle−Ottawa scale. The PRP-treated patients showed statistically significant improvement postoperatively compared to control groups concerning the Constant−Murley (mean difference 2.46, 95% CI 1.4−3.52, p < 0.00001), SST (mean difference 0.32, 95% CI 0.02−0.63, p = 0.04), and UCLA (mean difference 0.82, 95% CI 0.23−1.43, p = 0.07) scores. A statistically significant decrease of retear rates in the PRP-treated patients, with a risk ratio of 0.78 (95% CI 0.65−0.94, p = 0.01), was found. We believe that the results presented have positive aspects, especially concerning the retear risk, but are yet inconclusive concerning clinical results such as shoulder pain and function.

Collagen and platelet-rich plasma in partial-thickness rotator cuff injuries. Friends or only indifferent neighbours? Randomised controlled trial

BACKGROUND

Partial-thickness rotator cuff injuries (PTRCI) are the sum of degenerative, overload, and microtrauma processes. An external supply of collagen and platelet-rich plasma (PRP) could potentially counteract the deterioration of degenerative tendinopathy. This study aimed to compare the effectiveness of collagen with PRP, PRP alone, and collagen alone in the treatment of PTRCI.

METHODS

Ninety patients with PTRCI were randomised and treated with ultrasound-guided injections into the shoulder bursa every consecutive week: Group A - collagen with PRP (n = 30), Group B - collagen alone (n = 30), and Group C - PRP alone (n = 30). Primary outcomes were pain intensity measured in control points on a numeric rating scale (NRS), QuickDash, and EQ-5D-5L questionnaires at the initial assessment (IA) and control assessments after 6 (T1), 12 (T2), and 24 (T3) weeks, respectively.

RESULTS

No statistical differences were found between groups in primary outcomes, although there was a trend towards improvement in Groups A and C (opposite to Group B) between T2 and T3. The following parameters were also observed: rotator cuff discontinuity (n = 3, one case in each group) and rotator cuff regeneration (n = 22 in Group A, n = 20 in Group B, and n = 23 in Group C).

CONCLUSIONS

Combined therapy of collagen and PRP in PTRCI presents similar effectiveness to monotherapies with collagen or PRP.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

The study was prospectively registered on the NCT Trial Center (identification number: NCT04492748 ) on 30.07.2020.

Platelet-rich plasma does not improve clinical results in patients with rotator cuff disorders but reduces the retear rate. A systematic review and meta-analysis

PURPOSE

To assess whether the use of Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) produces a clinical benefit in patients with rotator cuff disorders, treated either conservatively or surgically.

METHODS

A systematic review was performed according to PRISMA guidelines on three databases (PubMed, Cochrane Library, Web of Science) to identify randomised controlled trials (RCTs) on the use of PRP in patients with rotator cuff disorders, treated either conservatively or surgically. A meta-analysis was performed on articles reporting results for Constant, UCLA, VAS, SST scores and retear rate. The RoB 2.0 and the modified Coleman Methodology Score were used to assess methodological quality.

RESULTS

A total of 36 RCTs (20 surgical, 16 conservative) were included, for a total of 2,443 patients. Conservative treatment showed high heterogeneity and no clear consensus in favour of PRP. The meta-analysis of the studies with surgical treatment showed no benefit in using PRP in any of the clinical outcomes, either at the short or medium/long-term follow-up. However, the retear rate was lower with PRP augmentation (p < 0.001). The overall quality of the studies was moderate to high, with the surgical studies presenting a lower risk of bias than the conservative studies.

CONCLUSION

The use of PRP as augmentation in rotator cuff surgical repair significantly reduces the retear rate. However, no benefits were documented in terms of clinical outcomes. PRP application through injection in patients treated conservatively also failed to present any clear advantage. While there are many studies in the literature with several RCTs of moderate to high quality, the high heterogeneity of products and studies remains a significant limitation to fully understanding PRP potential in this field.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Level I.

Effect of Bone Marrow Aspirate Concentrate and Platelet-Rich Plasma Augmentation on the Rate of Revision Rotator Cuff Repair

Background:

The application of orthobiologics at the time of arthroscopic rotator cuff repair (RCR) has received an increasing amount of clinical interest despite a relative scarcity of human clinical studies on their efficacy.

Purpose:

To utilize a national administrative database to determine the association of bone marrow aspirate concentrate (BMAC) and platelet-rich plasma (PRP) applied at the time of RCR with revision surgery rates.

Study Design:

Cohort study; Level of evidence, 3.

Methods:

The Mariner data set from the PearlDiver patient records repository was utilized to identify patients undergoing RCR using Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) code 29827. Patients receiving BMAC or PRP at the time of RCR were then identified using CPT coding. For comparison purposes, a matched cohort was created consisting of patients who underwent RCR without biologic augmentation in a 5:1 fashion for each biologic separately. Cases were matched according to age, sex, tobacco use, biceps tenodesis, distal clavicle excision, and subacromial decompression. All groups were then queried for revision RCR or conversion to reverse shoulder arthroplasty. Revision rates were compared utilizing a multivariate binomial logistic regression analysis. Adjusted odds ratios (ORs) and 95% CIs were calculated.

Results:

A total of 760 patients who underwent biologic augmentation during RCR were identified, including 646 patients in the PRP group and 114 patients in the BMAC group. They were compared with 3800 matched controls without documented biologic application at the time of surgery. Compared with matched controls, patients who received BMAC at the time of surgery experienced a significantly lower incidence of revision surgery at 2 years (OR, 0.36; 95% CI, 0.15-0.82; P = .015). There was no significant difference in revision rates between PRP and matched controls (OR, 0.87; 95% CI, 0.62-1.23; P = .183).

Conclusion:

The application of BMAC at the time of RCR was associated with a significant decrease in the incidence of revision surgery. There was no apparent effect of PRP on the incidence of revision surgery after primary RCR. Higher-level clinical studies considering surgical factors are needed to more clearly define the role of biologic adjuvants in RCR.

Comparative effectiveness of different platelet-rich plasma for arthroscopic rotator cuff repair: A protocol for systematic review and network meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Rotator cuff tears are one of the most common injuries of the shoulder joint in adults. Arthroscopic rotator cuff repair (ARCR) has become the gold standard for the treatment of rotator cuff injuries, but it still has a high rate of retear. Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) has been widely used as an adjunct to ARCR. However, the comparative efficacy of different PRP for ARCR remain unclear. In order to evaluate the relative efficacy of PRP for individuals with ARCR, we will conduct a systematic review and network meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

METHODS

A systematic literature search will be conducted in Embase, PubMed, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, Wanfang Database, and Chinese Biomedical Literature Database will be searched up to October 2022. The primary outcome will focus on the retear rate at the last follow-up. The secondary outcomes include the Visual Analogue Scale for postoperative pain and functional capacity scores. The risk of bias for individual studies will be assessed according to the revised Cochrane risk-of-bias tool for randomized trials (RoB 2.0). Data analysis will be performed using R 4.1.2. Publication bias will be examined using comparison-adjusted funnel plots and Egger's test using STATA 15.0. The quality of evidence will be assessed using the Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development and Evaluation approach.

RESULTS

The results of this study will be submitted to a peer-reviewed journal for publication.

CONCLUSIONS

The review will compare the efficacy of different PRP for patients with ARCR. The result of the study will provide evidence-based medical evidence for ARCR with PRP augmentation.

Clinical perspectives for repairing rotator cuff injuries with multi-tissue regenerative approaches

Background

In the musculoskeletal system, bone, tendon, and muscle form highly integrated multi-tissue units such as the rotator cuff complex, which facilitates functional and dynamic movement of the shoulder joint. Understanding the intricate interplay among these tissues within clinical, biological, and engineering contexts is vital for addressing challenging issues in treatment of musculoskeletal disorders and injuries.

Methods

A wide-ranging literature search was performed, and findings related to the socioeconomic impact of rotator cuff tears, the structure-function relationship of rotator cuff bone-tendon-muscle units, pathophysiology of injury, current clinical treatments, recent state-of-the-art advances (stem cells, growth factors, and exosomes) as well as their regulatory approval, and future strategies aimed at engineering bone-tendon-muscle musculoskeletal units are outlined.

Results

Rotator cuff injuries are a significant socioeconomic burden on numerous healthcare systems that may be addressed by treating the rotator cuff as a single complex, given its highly integrated structure-function relationship as well as degenerative pathophysiology and limited healing in bone-tendon-muscle musculoskeletal tissues. Current clinical practices for treating rotator cuff injuries, including the use of commercially available devices and evolving trends in surgical management have benefited patients while advances in application of stem/progenitor cells, growth factors, and exosomes hold clinical potential. However, such efforts do not emphasize targeted regeneration of bone-tendon-muscle units. Strategies aimed at regenerating bone-tendon-muscle units are thus expected to address challenging issues in rotator cuff repair.

Conclusions

The rotator cuff is a highly integrated complex of bone-tendon-muscle units that when injured, has severe consequences for patients and healthcare systems. State-of-the-art clinical treatment as well as recent advances have resulted in improved patient outcome and may be further enhanced by engineering bone-tendon-muscle multi-tissue grafts as a potential strategy for rotator cuff injuries.

Translational Potential of this Article

This review aims to bridge clinical, tissue engineering, and biological aspects of rotator cuff repair and propose a novel therapeutic strategy by targeted regeneration of multi-tissue units. The presentation of these wide-ranging and multi-disciplinary concepts are broadly applicable to regenerative medicine applications for musculoskeletal and non-musculoskeletal tissues.

Editorial Commentary: Platelet-Rich Plasma Reduces Retear Rates Following Rotator Cuff Repair but Does Not Improve Clinical Outcomes

Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) is a novel biologic treatment in orthopaedic sports medicine that may enhance surgical repairs and improve clinical and functional outcomes. Studies investigating the effect of PRP on shoulder rotator cuff healing, clinical outcomes, and retear rates suggest that PRP has no effect on outcome and healing but potentially reduces retear rates. However, study quality is compromised by low samples sizes, inadequate randomization protocols, and heterogeneity. In addition, other factors influence outcomes and could cause bias when collecting data. PRP preparation varies among studies, and a variety of patient factors such as smoking; comorbidity; rotator cuff tear size, configuration, and grade; and functional demands are difficult to control even if a randomized study protocol is undertaken. Until there are reliable and valid data available, the use of PRP in rotator cuff repair is not strongly supported and is at the discretion of the treating surgeon. The current evidence shows the superiority of PRP over hyaluronic acid and corticosteroids, and there is promise that PRP could be a useful adjunct promoting rotator cuff healing following surgical repair.

Chitosan-platelet-rich plasma implants improve rotator cuff repair in a large animal model: Pilot study

Freeze-dried formulations of chitosan can be solubilized in platelet-rich plasma (PRP) to form injectable implants that are used as an adjunct treatment during surgical repair of the rotator cuff. The purpose of the current study was to assess chitosan-PRP implant residency, test safety, and assess efficacy over standard-of-care controls in a sheep model of rotator cuff repair. The infraspinatus tendon was transected unilaterally and immediately repaired with suture anchors in 22 skeletally mature ewes. In treatment groups, formulations containing chitosan, trehalose, and calcium chloride were solubilized with autologous leukocyte-rich PRP and injected at the tendon-bone interface and on top of the repaired site (1 mL or 2 mL doses). Implant residency was assessed histologically at 1 day. Outcome measures included MRI assessment at baseline, 6 weeks, and 12 weeks, histopathology and clinical pathology. Chitosan-PRP implants were resident at the injection site at 1 day and induced recruitment of polymorphonuclear cells. The tendon gap, which corresponds to the length of abnormally hyperintense tissue attached to the humeral head, was decreased by treatment with the 2 mL dose when compared to controls at 12 weeks on MRI images. Some histological features were improved by the 2 mL dose treatment compared to controls at 12 weeks. There was no treatment-specific effect on all standard safety outcome measures, which suggests high safety. This study provides preliminary evidence on the safety and efficacy of chitosan-PRP implants in a large animal model that could potentially be translated to a clinical setting.

Augmentation of Rotator Cuff Healing With Orthobiologics

The limited regenerative capacity of the tendon-bone enthesis after surgical repair poses a significant challenge to achieving desired clinical outcomes. Biologic augmentation of the repair site has the potential to enhance the biomechanical and histological integrity of the enthesis, leading to lower retear rates and greater patient satisfaction. Platelet-rich plasma, stem cells and bone marrow aspirate concentrate, growth factors, biodegradable or biomimetic scaffolds, and amniotic products have been investigated in preclinical and, in some cases, clinical studies aimed at augmenting tendon-bone healing. Although many of these therapies have achieved some degree of success in improving structural, histological, and clinical outcomes after surgical tendon-bone enthesis repair, none have reliably and consistently lead to clinical improvement. High-quality randomized controlled clinical studies are needed to definitively evaluate the efficacy of these biologic therapies and ultimately determine which, if any, are capable of achieving a tendon-bone repair that is structurally noninferior to the native enthesis before injury.

Platelet-Rich Plasma Has Better Results for Retear Rate, Pain, and Outcome Than Platelet-Rich Fibrin After Rotator Cuff Repair: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials

PURPOSE

To perform a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) in the literature to ascertain the extent to which platelet-rich plasma (PRP) and platelet-rich fibrin (PRF) improved patient outcomes in arthroscopic rotator cuff repair.

METHODS

Two independent reviewers performed the literature search based on the PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) guidelines, with a third author resolving any discrepancies. RCTs comparing PRP or PRF to a control in rotator cuff repair were included. Quality of evidence was assessed using the Cochrane Collaboration risk of bias tool. Clinical outcomes were compared using the risk ratio for dichotomous variables and the mean difference for continuous variables. A P value <.05 was deemed statistically significant.

RESULTS

Included in this review are 23 RCTs with 1440 patients. PRP resulted in significantly decreased rates of retear (15.9% versus 29.0%, respectively; P < .0001). Significant results were noted in favor of PRP compared with control based on the Constant score (83.9 versus 81.2, respectively; P = .0006); the University of California, Los Angeles score (31.1 versus 30.2; P < .00001); the American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons score (87.3 versus 84.5; P = .04); and the visual analog scale score (1.3 versus 1.6; P = .01). PRF resulted in an improved Constant score (80.1 versus 80.0, respectively; P = .04) compared with control.

CONCLUSIONS

The current evidence shows that using PRP in arthroscopic rotator cuff repair can improve pain levels and functional outcome scores while reducing the retear rate after surgery. PRF injection, on the other hand, improves only the Constant score.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

II; systematic review and meta-analysis of level I and II evidence.

Platelet-Rich Plasma in Arthroscopic Rotator Cuff Repair: Clinical and Radiological Results of a Prospective Randomized Controlled Trial Study at 10-Year Follow-Up

PURPOSE

The aim of the study is to compare, at 10-year follow-up, the clinical and radiological outcomes of arthroscopic rotator cuff repair with or without the addition of platelet-rich plasma (PRP) over the tendon-bone interface at the end of the surgical procedure.

METHODS

Of 53 patients recruited in the study, and randomly divided into 2 groups (PRP = 26; control = 27), 38 were re-evaluated at least 10 years after the index procedure. The clinical evaluation was carried out through: University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA) Shoulder Score, Visual Analogue Scale (VAS), Simple Shoulder Test, Constant-Murley Score (CMS), Single Assessment Numerical Evaluation (SANE), American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons (ASES) and isometric strength in abduction, forward flexion and external rotation. Musculoskeletal ultrasonography had been used to evaluate the integrity of the repaired cuff.

RESULTS

A number of 38 (71%) patients (PRP = 17; control = 21) with a median age of 71 [64.75-76.50] years have been evaluated. Satisfaction at follow-up is high (90%), without statistically significant difference between the two groups. We report good and excellent clinical results in both groups (PRP vs control): CMS (81.62 [72.47-85.75] vs 77.97 [69.52-82.55] points), UCLA (34 [29.00-35.00] vs 33 [29.00-35.00] points), VAS (0.34 [0.00-1.85] vs 0.70 [0.00-2.45] cm). It was not possible to find a statistically significant difference for the variables analyzed, except for ASES and SANE. On average, 37% of the operated patients had a re-rupture at the ultrasound examination, regardless of the treatment group (P = 1.00). Compared with the previous radiological control at the 2-year follow-up, new retears occurred in 6% of the patients who received PRP treatment, whereas in the control group the percentage raises to 14% (P = .61).

CONCLUSION

The clinical and radiological outcomes at the 10-year follow-up show a substantial uniformity of results between the 2 groups. The minor differences that had been observed at 2-year follow-up disappeared at long term. Patients' satisfaction is still high 10 years after surgical treatment.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Level II, randomized controlled trial, treatment study.

Editorial Commentary: Platelet-Rich Plasma for Rotator Cuff Repairs: No Evidence for Improved Long-Term Outcomes … Yet!

Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) is an autologous blood product containing a high concentration of platelets, growth factors, and cytokines, which basic science studies have shown may improve tendon healing by promoting angiogenesis, cellular migration, proliferation, and matrix deposition. However, there is still controversy over its clinical efficacy, with randomized controlled trials and subsequent meta-analyses finding mixed results when PRP is used to augment rotator cuff repair. Meta-analyses have found that leukocyte-poor PRP significantly reduces the rate of incomplete tendon healing and retear, but the evidence does not support the use of leukocyte-rich PRP or platelet-rich fibrin matrix compositions. Optimizing PRP use may be as simple as the right PRP preparation or the right concentration of the important cytokines.

The Evolution of Arthroscopic Rotator Cuff Repair

Over the past 30 years, arthroscopic rotator cuff repair (ARCR) has evolved to become the gold standard in treating rotator cuff pathology. As procedural concepts of ARCR continue to improve, it is also continually compared with the open rotator cuff repair as the historical standard of care. This review highlights the evolution of ARCR, including a historical perspective; the anatomic, clinical, and surgical implications of the development of an arthroscopic approach; how arthroscopy improved some of the problems of the open approach; adaptations in techniques and technologies associated with ARCR; future perspectives in orthobiologics as they pertain to ARCR; and lastly, the clinical improvements, or lack of improvements, with all of these adaptations.

Systematic Review of Platelet-Rich Plasma for Rotator Cuff Repair: Are We Adhering to the Minimum Information for Studies Evaluating Biologics in Orthopaedics?

Background

The therapeutic efficacy of orthobiologic therapies for rotator cuff repair is difficult to evaluate owing to reporting inconsistences. In response, the Minimum Information for Studies Evaluating Biologics in Orthopaedics (MIBO) guidelines were developed to ensure standard reporting on orthobiologic therapies.

Purpose

To systematically review clinical studies evaluating platelet-rich plasma (PRP) for full-thickness rotator cuff repair and adherence to MIBO guidelines.

Study Design

Scoping review; Level of evidence, 4.

Methods

A search was performed according to the PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) guidelines using PubMed, EMBASE, and the Cochrane Library databases. Inclusion criteria were clinical studies reporting on rotator cuff tears (≥1 cm) surgically repaired with PRP. Patient demographics, biologic intervention, and adherence to the MIBO guidelines were systematically reviewed.

Results

A total of 19 studies (1005 patients) were included in this review. Across all studies, 58.5% of the MIBO checklist items for PRP were reported. Out of 47 checklist items, 19 were reported in over 85% of studies, whereas 22 were reported in less than half of studies. Details of whole-blood processing and characteristics, as well as PRP processing and characteristics, were reported inconsistently, and no study provided adequate information to enable the precise replication of preparation protocols for PRP.

Conclusion

This systematic review highlights the current reporting deficiencies within the scientific literature of important variables for evaluating PRP for full-thickness rotator cuff repair. There was widespread variability among published studies that evaluate PRP for this application and, more specifically, studies were limited by inconsistent universal reporting of whole-blood and PRP processing and postprocessing characteristics. To improve our understanding of biologic efficacy and to promote repeatability, stricter adherence to the MIBO guidelines is necessary. We propose that the checklist limitations be addressed and that modification of the MIBO guidelines be considered to improve the reporting of individual components within certain categories.

The Statistical Fragility of Platelet-Rich Plasma in Rotator Cuff Surgery: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

The practice of evidence-based medicine relies on objective data to guide clinical decision-making with specific statistical thresholds conveying study significance.

PURPOSE

To determine the utility of applying the fragility index (FI) and the fragility quotient (FQ) analysis to randomized controlled trials (RCTs) evaluating the utilization of platelet-rich plasma (PRP) in rotator cuff repairs (RCRs).

STUDY DESIGN

Systematic review and meta-analysis.

METHODS

RCTs pertaining to the utilization of PRP in surgical RCRs published in 13 peer-reviewed journals from 2000 to 2020 were evaluated. The FI was determined by manipulating each reported outcome event until a reversal of significance was appreciated. The associated FQ was determined by dividing the FI by the sample size.

RESULTS

Of the 9746 studies screened, 19 RCTs were ultimately included for analysis. The overall FI incorporating all 19 RCTs was only 4, suggesting that the reversal of only 4 events is required to change study significance. The associated FQ was determined as 0.092. Of the 43 outcome events reporting lost to follow-up data, 13 (30.2%) represented lost to follow-up >4.

CONCLUSION

Our analysis suggests that RCTs evaluating PRP for surgical RCRs may lack statistical stability with only a few outcome events required to alter trial significance. Therefore, we recommend the reporting of an FI and an FQ in conjunction with P value analysis to carefully interpret the integrity of statistical stability in future comparative trials.

CLINICAL RELEVANCE

Clinical decisions are often informed by statistically significant results. Thus, a true understanding of the robustness of the statistical findings informing clinical decision-making is of critical importance.

Combination of graphene oxide and platelet-rich plasma improves tendon-bone healing in a rabbit model of supraspinatus tendon reconstruction

The treatment of rotator cuff tear is one of the major challenges for orthopedic surgeons. The key to treatment is the reconstruction of the tendon-bone interface (TBI). Autologous platelet-rich plasma (PRP) is used as a therapeutic agent to accelerate the healing of tendons, as it contains a variety of growth factors and is easy to prepare. Graphene oxide (GO) is known to improve the physical properties of biomaterials and promote tissue repair. In this study, PRP gels containing various concentrations of GO were prepared to promote TBI healing and supraspinatus tendon reconstruction in a rabbit model. The incorporation of GO improved the ultrastructure and mechanical properties of the PRP gels. The gels containing 0.5 mg/ml GO (0.5 GO/PRP) continuously released transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) and platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF)-AB, and the released TGF-β1 and PDGF-AB were still at high concentrations, ∼1063.451 pg/ml and ∼814.217 pg/ml, respectively, on the 14th day. In vitro assays showed that the 0.5 GO/PRP gels had good biocompatibility and promoted bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells proliferation and osteogenic and chondrogenic differentiation. After 12 weeks of implantation, the magnetic resonance imaging, micro-computed tomography and histological results indicated that the newly regenerated tendons in the 0.5 GO/PRP group had a similar structure to natural tendons. Moreover, the biomechanical results showed that the newly formed tendons in the 0.5 GO/PRP group had better biomechanical properties compared to those in the other groups, and had more stable TBI tissue. Therefore, the combination of PRP and GO has the potential to be a powerful advancement in the treatment of rotator cuff injuries.

Retear rates after rotator cuff surgery: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Background

Rotator cuff retear (RCR) is one of the main postoperative drawbacks. RCR can be considered a multifactorial issue, which causes are related either to biological than biomechanical factors. The aim of this study was to define the incidence of RCR after surgical treatment at different time points and to identify the main factors influencing the postoperative rotator cuff (RC) healing.

Methods

A systematic review and meta-analysis were performed following the PRISMA guidelines. A comprehensive search of the literature was carried out in July 2020, using PubMed and Cochrane Library databases. Only level 1 and 2 clinical evidence studies were included. Studies were included if patients with preoperative repairable full-thickness RC tears were treated surgically, and if studies reported postoperative RCR confirmed by imaging diagnostic. The association between timing of retear and follow-up time points were investigated using an inverse-variance method of pooling data. A subgroup meta-analysis was performed using the DerSimonian and Laird method for the estimation of the between-study variance, i.e., τ². The association between retear rate after surgery and patients’ age, preoperative tear size, fatty infiltration, postoperative rehabilitation protocol, surgical techniques, and RC repairs was determined by expressing the effect measure in terms of odds ratio (OR) with 95% confidence interval (CI). The Mantel-Haenszel method with 95% CIs was used.

Results

Thirty-one articles were included in this study. The percentage of RCR after surgery was 15% at 3 months follow-up, 21% at 3–6 months follow-up, 16% at 6–12 months follow-up, 21% at 12–24 months follow-up, 16% at follow-up longer than 24 months. The main factors influencing RC healing are both patient-related (i.e., age, larger tear size, fatty infiltration) and not patient-related (i.e., postoperative rehabilitation protocol, surgical techniques, and procedures).

Conclusions

Postoperative RC healing is influenced by patient-related and non-patient-related factors. Further high-level clinical studies are needed to provide highly relevant clinical results.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12891-021-04634-6.

Platelet-Rich Product Supplementation in Rotator Cuff Repair Reduces Retear Rates and Improves Clinical Outcomes: A Meta-analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials

PURPOSE

The purpose of this study was to conduct a comprehensive systematic review and meta-analysis to investigate the clinical and imaging outcomes of all 4 types of platelet-rich therapies (pure platelet-rich plasma [P-PRP], leukocyte and platelet-rich plasma, pure platelet-rich fibrin, and leukocyte and platelet-rich fibrin) in rotator cuff repairs.

METHODS

A systematic literature search was performed to identify rotator cuff tears comparing any of the 4 types of platelet-rich products (PRP) to a control in rotator cuff repair. Data extracted from the studies included retear rates diagnosed with imaging studies, as well as outcome scores such as Constant, American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons (ASES), University of California Los Angeles (UCLA), Simple Shoulder Test (SST), and visual analog scale (VAS). Meta-analyses compared postoperative outcome scores and retear rates between the control and study groups.

RESULTS

Seventeen studies were included in the meta-analysis. When pooling data from all studies, retear rate for the treatment group was 19.3%, compared to 25.4% for the control group (odds ratio [OR] 0.59, P = .0037). When stratified based on PRP type, only P-PRP resulted in a significant reduction in retear rate (OR 0.26, P = .0005). Overall, treatment with PRP significantly improved Constant scores when compared to controls (mean difference [MD] 2.41, P =.0027), as well as VAS scores (MD -0.12, P = .0014), and SST scores (MD 0.41, P = .0126). There was no significant difference in ASES scores (MD 0.37, P = .7762) or UCLA scores (MD 0.76, P =0.2447) between treatment and controls when pooling data from all studies.

CONCLUSIONS

This analysis demonstrates significant reductions in retear rates when rotator cuff repair is augmented with PRP. P-PRP appears to be the most effective formulation, resulting in significantly improved retear rates and clinical outcome scores when compared with controls.

Application of Platelet-Rich Plasma in Arthroscopic Rotator Cuff Repair: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

Background:

It is unclear how and which factors affect the clinical efficacy of platelet-rich plasma (PRP) applied during arthroscopic rotator cuff repair.

Purpose:

To evaluate the clinical efficacy of PRP for arthroscopic repair of full-thickness rotator cuff tear and investigate the factors that affect its clinical efficacy.

Study Design:

Systematic review; Level of evidence, 1.

Methods:

We searched Cochrane Library, EMBASE, MEDLINE, and OVID to identify randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of patients who received PRP treatment and arthroscopic rotator cuff repair (PRP group) versus controls (no-PRP group). The primary outcomes included retear rate, Constant-Murley score, University of California Los Angeles (UCLA) score, short-term American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons (ASES) score, visual analog scale (VAS) score for pain, and adverse events.

Results:

A total of 14 RCTs were included in this systematic review. Significant improvement in Constant-Murley, UCLA, and VAS pain scores were found in the PRP group during short-term, midterm, and long-term follow-up. The PRP group had a significantly decreased retear rate (risk ratio [RR], 0.57 [95% CI, 0.42 to 0.78]; P = .0003), especially for long-term follow-up (RR, 0.38 [95% CI, 0.17 to 0.83]; P = .02), large to massive tears (RR, 0.58 [95% CI, 0.42 to 0.80]; P = .0008), use of leukocyte-poor PRP (RR, 0.50 [95% CI, 0.33 to 0.76]; P = .001), and intraoperative application of PRP (RR, 0.57 [95% CI, 0.42 to 0.79]; P = .0007). No significant difference between the 2 groups was found in the incidence of adverse events (RR, 1.34 [95% CI, 0.83 to 2.15]; P = .23) or in ASES scores at short-term follow-up (weighted mean difference, 1.04 [95% CI, –3.10 to 5.19]; P = .62).

Conclusion:

The results of this review indicated that arthroscopic rotator cuff repair with PRP significantly reduced the long-term retear rate and shoulder pain and provided improved long-term shoulder function in patients. Intraoperative application of PRP, use of leukocyte-poor plasma, and large to massive tear size contributed to a significantly decreased retear rate for rotator cuff repair combined with PRP.

The Effect of Platelet-Rich Plasma Leukocyte Concentration on Arthroscopic Rotator Cuff Repair: A Network Meta-analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials

BACKGROUND

It is unclear whether leukocyte-poor (LP) or leukocyte-rich (LR) varieties of platelet-rich plasma (PRP) as an adjuvant to arthroscopic rotator cuff repair (ARCR) result in improved tendon healing rates.

PURPOSE

To perform a network meta-analysis of the randomized controlled trials in the literature to ascertain whether there is evidence to support the use of LP- or LR-PRP as an adjunct to ARCR.

METHODS

The literature search was based on the PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) guidelines. Randomized controlled trials comparing LP- or LR-PRP with a control alongside ARCR were included. Clinical outcomes, including retears and functional outcomes, were compared using a frequentist approach to network meta-analysis, with statistical analysis performed using R. The treatment options were ranked using the P-score.

RESULTS

There were 13 studies (868 patients) included, with 9 studies comparing LP-PRP with a control and 4 studies comparing LR-PRP with a control. LP-PRP was found to significantly reduce the rate of retear and/or incomplete tendon healing after fixation, even among medium-large tears; it also improved outcomes on the visual analog scale for pain, Constant score, and University of California Los Angeles score. LP-PRP had the highest P-score for all treatment groups. LR-PRP did not result in any significant improvements over the control group, except for visual analog scale score for pain. However, post hoc analysis revealed that LP-PRP did not lead to significant improvements over LR-PRP in any category.

CONCLUSION

The current study demonstrates that LP-PRP reduces the rate of retear and/or incomplete tendon healing after ARCR and improves patient-reported outcomes as compared with a control. However, it is still unclear whether LP-PRP improves the tendon healing rate when compared with LR-PRP.

Current Biological Strategies to Enhance Surgical Treatment for Rotator Cuff Repair

Rotator cuff tear is one of the most common shoulder problems encountered by orthopedic surgeons. Due to the slow healing process and high retear rate, rotator cuff tear has distressed millions of people all around the world every year, especially for the elderly and active athletes. This disease significantly impairs patients' motor ability and reduces their quality of life. Besides conservative treatment, open and arthroscopic surgery contributes a lot to accelerate the healing process of rotator cuff tear. Currently, there are many emerging novel treatment methods to promote rotator cuff repair. A variety of biological stimulus has been utilized in clinical practice. Among them, platelet-rich plasma, growth factors, stem cells, and exosomes are the most popular biologics in laboratory research and clinical trials. This review will focus on the biologics of bioaugmentation methods for rotator cuff repair and tendon healing, including platelet-rich plasma, growth factors, exosomes and stem cells, etc. Relevant studies are summarized in this review and future research perspectives are introduced.

Re-tears after rotator cuff repair: Current concepts review

Re-tear following rotator cuff repair is common and has been reported to range from between 13 and 94% despite satisfactory clinical outcomes following rotator cuff surgery. Various risk factors have been associated with an increased tear rate, including patient factors, tear and shoulder morphology, repair technique, and rehabilitation regimes. Different modes of rotator cuff failure have been described. The management of re-tear in patients following rotator cuff repair is challenging and depends on the age, functional status and requirements of the patient, and re-tear size and residual tendon length. This article aims to review the factors associated with rotator cuff re-tear. It describes which of these are associated with poor clinical outcomes, and discusses the long-term outcomes of re-tear and treatment options.

The clinical efficacy of leukocyte-poor platelet-rich plasma in arthroscopic rotator cuff repair: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

BACKGROUND

The efficacy of platelet-rich plasma (PRP) in the arthroscopic treatment of rotator cuff injury has been reported in the literature. However, conclusions have been inconsistent and more often related to differences in the types of PRP used. Therefore, to minimize these differences, we performed a meta-analysis of only studies investigating leukocyte-poor PRP to evaluate whether PRP promotes and improves the effects of arthroscopic rotator cuff repair.

METHODS

A comprehensive search of the PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane Library databases was conducted to evaluate the efficacy of leukocyte-poor PRP in arthroscopic rotator cuff repair. The available data were extracted, and the methodologic quality of the included studies was evaluated by the Cochrane risk-of-bias assessment tool.

RESULTS

In total, 10 randomized controlled trials involving 742 patients were included. The results of the meta-analysis showed that treatment with leukocyte-poor PRP performed better than the control treatment in relieving postoperative pain in the short-term (mean difference [MD], -0.57; 95% confidence interval [CI], -0.79 to -0.35; P < .0001) and medium- and long-term (MD, -0.18; 95% CI, -0.34 to -0.03; P = .02) follow-up groups. However, the changes in the MD in the visual analog scale score were below the minimal clinically important difference. Regarding the Constant shoulder (MD, 3.35; 95% CI, 1.68-5.02; P < .0001) and University of California, Los Angeles (MD, 1.73; 95% CI, 0.94-2.52; P < .0001) scores, statistically significant differences were found in favor of leukocyte-poor PRP over the control treatment. However, the changes in the MD in both the Constant and University of California, Los Angeles scores were below the minimal clinically important difference. Moreover, during medium- and long-term follow-up, the retear rate in the leukocyte-poor PRP group was lower than that in the control group regardless of the rotator cuff tear size (small and medium [<3 cm] [risk ratio (RR), 0.64; 95% CI, 0.43-0.97; P = .03] vs. medium and large [>3 cm] [RR, 0.51; 95% CI, 0.34-0.77; P = .001]) and surgical repair method (single-row repair [RR, 0.61; 95% CI, 0.43-0.87; P = .007] vs. double-row suture bridge repair [RR, 0.57; 95% CI, 0.38-0.84; P = .005]).

CONCLUSION

According to our study, leukocyte-poor PRP can significantly reduce the postoperative retear rate in the medium and long term regardless of the tear size and the method used for rotator cuff repair. However, the use of leukocyte-poor PRP failed to show clinically meaningful effects in terms of postoperative pain and patient-reported outcomes.

Clinical Evaluations of Intraoperative Injection of Platelet-Rich Plasma in Arthroscopic Single-Row Rotator Cuff Repair at 2-Year Follow-Up

Background. The clinical evidence is conflicted on whether platelet-rich plasma (PRP) therapies have a positive effect on tendon healing and improved functional outcomes. Purpose. To evaluate the potentials of intraoperative injection PRP on the speed and quality of healing in patients undergoing arthroscopic repair for small to medium rotator cuff tears. Methods. A total of 86 patients scheduled for arthroscopic single-row repair of small to medium rotator cuff tears were assigned to undergo either PRP injection (PRP group) or conventional repair (control group). The PRP group ( $N=43$ ) consisted of patients who received an intraoperative injection of liquid PRP. The control group ( $N=43$ ) consisted of patients who did not receive that treatment. The visual analogue scale (VAS) for pain before treatment and at 1, 14 days, 3, 6, and 24 months after surgery were recorded. The clinical outcomes were assessed by the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) and Constant scores before treatment and at 3, 6, and 24 months after surgery and magnetic resonance imaging or ultrasound examination at 24 months. Patient satisfaction and retear rate were also assessed. Results. No statistical differences in baseline characteristics such as age, gender, dominant arm, and tear size were observed between the two groups ( $P>0.05$ ). For the PRP group, the mean operation time was 40.22 minutes, and for the control group, the mean operation time was 36.3 minutes. There was a statistically significant difference ( $P=0.036$ ). After surgery, all VAS measurements significantly decreased over time until final follow-up in both groups. No significant difference between the 2 groups was found for any VAS pain measurement at any time point except for the VAS at 1 day postoperatively, which was significantly lower in the PRP group ( $2.39\pm 1.03$ ) than that in the control group ( $3.21\pm 1.85$ ) ( $P=0.014$ ). Analysis of the PRP and control groups demonstrated a statistically significant improvement in UCLA and Constant scores from baseline to the 3-, 6-, and 24-month follow-up assessments ( $P<0.05$ ). However, no significant intergroup differences were observed in the clinical scores between the three follow-up time points ( $P>0.05$ ). At the 24-month follow-up, patient satisfaction rates reached 95.65% and 93.48% for the PRP and control groups, respectively. The retear rate of the PRP group (2/43, 4.65%) was lower than that of the control group (6/43, 13.95%). Conclusions. Although the pain at 1 day after surgery and the retear rate in the PRP group were significantly lower than those in the control group, the liquid PRP injection did not promote better clinical outcomes at the 2-year follow-up.

Research Trends on the Rotator Cuff Tendon: A Bibliometric Analysis of the Past 2 Decades

BACKGROUND

Clinical research on the rotator cuff tendon is increasing, and new approaches are being applied to rotator cuff disease. Considering the integration of research resources and research trends, it is necessary to conduct an analysis of recent research on the topic.

PURPOSE

To identity the research trends, influential journals, key researchers, and core countries of rotator cuff tendon research between 2000 and 2019.

STUDY DESIGN

Cross-sectional study.

METHODS

All the literature related to rotator cuff tendon research was retrieved from the Web of Science Core Collection on January 7, 2020. Qualitative and quantitative analyses were processed based on Web of Science and CiteSpace.

RESULTS

A total of 4131 studies, which included 3830 articles and 301 reviews, were obtained. There was an upward trend of studies on the topic, with small fluctuations in the past 2 decades. The United States had the most studies, and the number of studies from other countries increased over the study period. Most of the funding sources came from the United States. Articles in the Journal of Shoulder and Elbow Surgery had the most citations for rotator cuff research. Frontier topics, such as arthroscopic repair, mesenchymal stem cell, and "platelet-rich plasma, were identified. The number of citations in 2018 (r = 0.280; P = .005) and 2019 (r = 0.307; P = .002) had a weak positive correlation with publication date, indicating that the more recently published articles had a higher number of citations.

CONCLUSION

Valuable information on rotator cuff research based on bibliometric analysis was identified. Arthroscopic repair, mesenchymal stem cell, and platelet-rich plasma might be the research frontiers in this field, and researchers should focus on these topics in future studies.

Effects of applying platelet-rich plasma during arthroscopic rotator cuff repair: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials

Because of its healing properties, platelet-rich plasma (PRP) has been applied to the bone-tendon interface during arthroscopic rotator cuff repair to improve surgical outcomes. However, its effects remain ambiguous. Therefore, we conducted this systematic review and meta-analysis to assess the effects of PRP on retear rate and functional outcomes. Randomised control trials were identified and extracted. Data collection was completed on 15 February 2020. The results are expressed as the risk ratio (RR) for the categorical variables and weighted mean difference for the continuous variables, with 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Analyses were performed using RevMan 5.3 software. Seven randomised controlled trials published from 2013 to 2018, with 541 patients in total, were included. The results revealed a significant decrease in retear rate [RR 0.38, 95% CI (0.22, 0.68), P = 0.0009). Furthermore, a significant improvement was observed regarding short-term Constant score [mean difference = 3.28, 95% CI (1.46, 5.11), P = 0.0004), short-term University of California at Los Angeles activity score [mean difference = 1.60, 95% CI (0.79, 2.42), P = 0.0001], and short-term visual analogue scale score [mean difference =  - 0.14, 95% CI (- 0.23, - 0.05), P = 0.002]. This systematic review indicates the efficacy of PRP when applied to the bone-tendon interface during arthroscopic rotator cuff repair.

Preliminary Clinical Outcomes Following Biologic Augmentation of Arthroscopic Rotator Cuff Repair Using Subacromial Bursa, Concentrated Bone Marrow Aspirate, and Platelet-Rich Plasma

Purpose

To evaluate the clinical outcomes of patients who underwent arthroscopic rotator cuff repair augmented using subacromial bursa, concentrated bone marrow aspirate (cBMA), and platelet-rich plasma.

Methods

Sixteen patients were included in the study who underwent arthroscopic rotator cuff repair augmented using subacromial bursa, cBMA, and platelet-rich plasma from January 2018 to July 2018 and had a minimum 1-year follow-up. American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons (ASES), Simple Shoulder Test, Constant-Murley, and Single Assessment Numerical Evaluation (SANE) scores were collected preoperatively and at terminal follow-up. To determine the clinical relevance of ASES scores, the minimal clinically important difference, substantial clinical benefit, and the patient acceptable symptomatic state thresholds were used. In vitro cellular proliferation of subacromial bursa (nucleated cells/gram) and cBMA (nucleated cells and colony-forming units/cc) samples was evaluated and correlated to clinical outcomes scores.

Results

Mean follow-up was 12.6 ± 1.8 months (range 12-19 months). Patients achieved significant improvement in ASES (45.8±22.5_pre vs 88.5 ± 14.6_post, Δ44.7 ± 20.7; P = .001), Simple Shoulder Test (4.3 ± 3.2_pre vs 10.4 ± 1.6_post, Δ5.7 ± 3.9, P = .002), Constant-Murley (44.3 ± 18.2_pre vs 83.6 ± 17.5_post, Δ37.2 ± 21.8; P = .001), SANE (13.3 ± 10.7_pre vs 86.3 ± 17.5_post, Δ71.9 ± 22.9; P = .001), and pain scores (5.0±2.8_pre vs 1.1 ± 1.6_post, Δ3.5±2.5, P = .001) at final follow-up. With regards to ASES score, 93.8% of patients achieved the minimal clinically important difference, 93.8% the substantial clinical benefit, and 62.5% reached or exceeded the patient acceptable symptomatic state criteria. There was a significant positive correlation of nucleated cell count of cBMA with postoperative SANE score (r = 0.707; P = .015) and delta in ASES score (r = 0.727; P = .011). All other correlations were found to be nonsignificant (P > .05, respectively).

Conclusions

Patients undergoing arthroscopic rotator cuff repair augmented using the Mega-Clot with bursa technique achieved significant improvement in functional outcomes at a minimum 1-year follow-up, with 93.8% of patients reaching substantial clinical benefit.

Level of Evidence

Level IV, therapeutic case series.

A Historical Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials in Rotator Cuff Tears

Background and objectives: Our research aimed to evaluate the quality of reporting of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) linked to rotator cuff (RC) tears. The present study analyzed factors connected to the quality of the RCTs and trends in the quality of reporting through time. Materials and Methods: The online databases used to search all RCTs on the topic of RC surgery completed until March 2020 were PubMed and Ovid (MEDLINE). The quality of reporting was evaluated using the modified Coleman methodology score (MCMS) and the consolidated standards of reporting trials (CONSORT). Results: The online search found 957 articles. Finally, 183 studies were included in the quantitative synthesis. A total of 97 (53%) of 183 studies had a level of evidence I and 86 (47%) of 183 studies had a level of evidence II, according to the Oxford Center of Evidence Based Medicine (EBM). A statistically significant difference in MCMS between articles written before 2010 and articles written after 2010 was found. Articles written after 2010 had, on average, the highest Coleman score. The average number of CONSORT checklist items for each article across all analyzed RCTs was 21.67. The 37 studies completed up to 2010 averaged a number of checklist items of 19.97 and the studies completed between 2011 and 2019 averaged a number of checklist items of 22.10. A statistically significant difference in the number of checklist items between articles written before 2010 and articles written after 2010 was found. Articles written after 2010 had on average more checklist items. However, low correlation (0.26) between the number of checklist items for each article and the respective Coleman score was found. On the other hand, articles with the CONSORT diagram had a significantly high Coleman score. Conclusions: An improvement in the quantity and quality of RCTs relating to RC surgery over the analyzed period was found.

The Effect of Delayed Injection of Leukocyte-Rich Platelet-Rich Plasma Following Rotator Cuff Repair on Patient Function: A Randomized Double-Blind Controlled Trial

PURPOSE

To investigate the effect of delayed application of leukocyte-rich platelet-rich plasma (PRP) on rotator cuff repair results as assessed by outcome scores and imaging at one year.

METHODS

Patients with a symptomatic rotator cuff tear awaiting arthroscopic repair were approached to take part in the study. Final eligibility for the study was confirmed at the time of surgery. A total of 97 patients were randomized to an ultrasound guided injection of leukocyte-rich PRP or normal saline between 10 and 14 days postsurgery. A total of 87 patients completed clinical evaluation and underwent magnetic resonance imaging imaging at 1 year. Outcome scores included the American Shoulder and Elbow Score, Constant score, Western Ontario Rotator Cuff Index, and the Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand Score. Structural integrity of the repair was assessed according to the Sugaya grading. Muscle fatty infiltration was assessed on magnetic resonance imaging using the Goutallier classification.

RESULTS

At 1 year postsurgery, there was no significant difference between the treatment groups on any of the patient-reported outcome measures or Constant score. On postoperative imaging analysis, there was no difference in the retear rates (Sugaya 4 and 5) between the groups (21% in control group vs 15.3% in PRP group). Fatty infiltration on postoperative imaging was found to be significantly higher in the normal saline group compared with the PRP group (Kendall's tau-b P = .032).

CONCLUSIONS

The delayed application of PRP postrotator cuff repair did not improve function as measured by patient-reported outcome measures and Constant score at 1 year postoperatively.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Level II, prospective randomized therapeutic trial.

A Randomized Controlled Trial of the Treatment of Rotator Cuff Tears with Bone Marrow Concentrate and Platelet Products Compared to Exercise Therapy: A Midterm Analysis

Injectable regenerative therapies such as bone marrow concentrate (BMC) and platelet-rich plasma (PRP) may represent a safe alternative in the treatment of rotator cuff tears. This is a midterm review of a randomized, crossover trial comparing autologous BMC and platelet product injections versus exercise therapy in the treatment of partial and full-thickness supraspinatus tears. Patients enrolled into the study were between 18 and 65 years of age presenting to an outpatient orthopedic clinic with partial to full thickness, nonretracted supraspinatus tendon tears. Enrolled patients were randomized to either ultrasound-guided autologous BMC with PRP and platelet lysate (PL) percutaneous injection treatment or exercise therapy. Patients could cross over to BMC treatment after at least 3 months of exercise therapy. Patients completed the Disability of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand (DASH) scores as the primary outcome measure. Secondary outcomes included the numeric pain scale (NPS), a modified Single Assessment Numeric Evaluation (SANE), and a blinded MRI review. At this midterm review, results from 25 enrolled patients who have reached at least 12-month follow-up are presented. No serious adverse events were reported. Significant differences were seen in patient reported outcomes for the BMC treatment compared to exercise therapy at 3 and 6 months for pain, and for function and reported improvement (SANE) at 3 months (p < .05). Patients reported a mean 89% improvement at 24 months, with sustained functional gains and pain reduction. MRI review showed a size decrease of most tears post-BMC treatment. These findings suggest that ultrasound-guided BMC and platelet product injections are a safe and useful alternative to conservative exercise therapy of torn, nonretracted supraspinatus tendons. This trial is registered with NCT01788683.

Postoperative residual pain is associated with a high magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)-based signal intensity of the repaired supraspinatus tendon

PURPOSE

To assess patients with and without postoperative residual pain and to compare clinical function and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) appearance of the repaired supraspinatus tendon between patients with and without pain.

METHODS

One-hundred and seventeen patients with supraspinatus tear were included in this study. Visual Analog Scale (VAS) scores for pain were assessed at a follow-up of at least 1 year. Patients with residual shoulder pain were enrolled in the residual pain group (RP group) and patients without pain enrolled in the no pain group (NP group). The American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons (ASES) shoulder evaluation form, the modified University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA) score and the Fudan University Shoulder Score (FUSS) were also used to evaluate shoulder function. MRI examinations were performed to evaluate rotator cuff integrity according to the Sugaya method, and muscular hypotrophy, fatty infiltration, and signal/noise quotient (SNQ) of the rotator cuff tendon.

RESULTS

Thirty-five patients had residual pain (RP group) and 82 patients had no pain (NR group). At the final follow-up, there was a significant difference in ASES (92 ± 8 points vs 76 ± 10 points; p < 0.001), UCLA (32 ± 3 points vs 28 ± 3 points; p < 0.001), FUSS (90 ± 7 points vs 80 ± 9 points; p < 0.001) and strength (9 ± 3 kg vs 6 ± 2 kg; p < 0.001) between the NP group and the RP group, respectively. Postoperative MRI revealed that there was no significant difference in the retear rate (9.8% vs 8.6%; ns), the muscular hypotrophy (ns), and the fatty infiltration index (0.9 ± 0.2 vs 0.9 ± 0.2; ns) between the NP and the RP groups, respectively. The postoperative tendon SNQ of the RP group was significantly higher than that of the NP group (4.6 ± 2.5 vs 3 ± 1.7; p < 0.001). There was a significant association between tendon SNQ and VAS for this cohort ([Formula: see text] = 0.29; p = 0.003).

CONCLUSION

Postoperative residual pain is associated with a high MRI signal intensity of the repaired supraspinatus tendon. Since high signal intensity of tendon tissue indicates degenerated tendon tissue quality, it highlighted the necessity of debriding the degenerated rotator cuff tendon tissue.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

III.

The role of biologic agents in the management of common shoulder pathologies: current state and future directions

The field of orthopedic surgery has seen a rapid increase in the use of various biologic agents for the treatment of common musculoskeletal injuries. Most biologic agents attempt to harness or mimic naturally occurring growth factors, cytokines, and anti-inflammatory mediators to improve tissue healing and recovery. The most commonly used biologic agents are platelet-rich plasma and cells derived from bone marrow aspirate and adipose tissue. These agents have become increasingly popular despite a relative dearth of clinical data to support their use. Much confusion exists among patients and physicians in determining the role of these agents in treating common shoulder pathologies, such as glenohumeral osteoarthritis, rotator cuff tears, and tendinopathy. This article reviews the basic science and clinical evidence for the most commonly used biologic agents in the management of common shoulder pathology.