Study: Addition of PRP to rotator cuff repair improves structural outcomes of rotator cuff tears

Patients with large to massive rotator cuff tears who had arthroscopic repair with the addition of platelet-rich plasma had improved structural outcomes compared with patients who underwent arthroscopic repair without platelet-rich plasma, according to results of this study.

"The application of platelet-rich plasma (PRP) for large to massive rotator cuff repairs significantly improved structural outcomes, as evidenced by a decreased retear rate and increased cross-sectional area of the supraspinatus compared with retears without platelet-rich plasma augmentation," the researchers wrote in the study.

Researchers randomized 48 patients into a group who underwent arthroscopic repair of rotator cuff tears and received PRP or a group of patients who underwent arthroscopic repair with no PRP. All patients were between the ages of 45 years and 85 years and had large to massive rotator cuff tears. Patients in the PRP group received three PRP gels applied between the torn end of the rotator cuff and the greater tuberosity. All patients returned to sport at 6 months to 9 months after treatment.

The change in postoperative cross-sectional area of the supraspinatus at 1-year follow-up was –15.54 mm² in the PRP group and –85.62 mm² for patients in the conventional treatment group. Patients who did not receive PRP had a retear rate of 55.6% compared with a 20% retear rate for patients in the PRP group. There were no significant preoperative and postoperative differences in shoulder function scores, pain, range of motion or strength between groups.

Disclosure: The research was supported by the Basic Science Research Program and the Bio & Medical Technology Development Program of the National Research Foundation funded by the Korean government.