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Arthroscopic Surgery and Platelet Rich Plasma In Rotator Cuff Tear Evaluation

Not Applicable
Completed
Conditions
Rotator Cuff Tear
Interventions
Biological: Autologous conditioned plasma (ACP)
Other: Normal saline
Registration Number
NCT01170312
Lead Sponsor
McMaster University
Brief Summary

Rotator cuff tears are a common injury that lead to pain and loss of function for those who suffer from it. Treatment includes the use of arthroscopic surgery to return function to the patient and reduce their pain. This study is interested in a technique that has the potential to improve patient outcomes in terms of less pain and better function after their surgery. Autologous Conditioned Plasma (ACP) or Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) is the intervention of interest, which is simply the patient's own blood that is withdrawn and spun down to obtain a high concentration of cells called platelets. Platelets release growth factors important for healing, as well as fibrin, which acts like a biological glue. The PRP is then re-injected into the shoulder at the time of surgery and again at 4 weeks. It has been shown to accelerate healing in other studies for injuries such as chronic elbow tendinopathy, but there is no randomized controlled trial that evaluates the effect of PRP in rotator cuff tears. It is on this basis that the study is being performed. Participating patients will receive either a PRP injection or a placebo (normal saline) and the effects will be compared at 2 weeks, 4 weeks, and 6 weeks based on a pain score and return to function questionnaires. The primary hypothesis for this study is that ACP compared with placebo is effective in reducing pain at the site of a rotator cuff injury that has undergone arthroscopic repair. It is expected that ACP administered during surgery and 4 weeks post-surgery will reduce 6-week pain scores compared to the placebo group.

Detailed Description

Not available

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status
COMPLETED
Sex
All
Target Recruitment
25
Inclusion Criteria
  • Men or women who are between 18 and 70 years of age.
  • Primary, traumatic or degenerative rotator cuff tears measuring 3 cm or less.
  • Rotator cuff tears requiring arthroscopic repair within 18 months of initial diagnosis.
  • Provision of informed consent.
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Exclusion Criteria
  • Rotator cuff tears secondary to a fracture.
  • Patients with an associated dislocation at the time of randomization.
  • Rotator cuff tears that underwent prior surgical repair or revision arthroscopy.
  • Non-surgical rotator cuff associated treatment in the 1 month prior to randomization including corticosteroid injection and anti-inflammatory treatment.
  • Prior platelet rich plasma injection.
  • Pre-existing conditions associated with upper extremity pain, including arthritis, ongoing infection, carpal tunnel syndrome, cervical neuropathy or other nerve pathology, local malignancy, and systemic disorders (e.g., uncontrolled diabetes, hypothyroidism).
  • Patients with gross shoulder instability.
  • Patients with an active infection.
  • Patients who are pregnant or plan to become pregnant in the next 12 months.
  • Patients with a pre-operative platelet count less than 125,000 and a pre-operative hemoglobin of 7.5g/dl or less.
  • Likely problems with follow-up (i.e. patients with no fixed address, report a plan to move out of town, or intellectually challenged patients without adequate family support).
  • Patients who do not read and speak English.
  • Patients participating in another ongoing trial that would interfere with the assessment of the primary or secondary outcomes.
  • Any other reason (in the judgment of the surgeon).
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Study & Design

Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Study Design
PARALLEL
Arm && Interventions
GroupInterventionDescription
Autologous conditioned plasmaAutologous conditioned plasma (ACP)-
Normal salineNormal saline-
Primary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Pain score6 weeks

To investigate the effect of ACP compared to placebo on pain scores in rotator cuff tears undergoing arthroscopic repair at 6 weeks.

Pain severity will be measured using a Visual Analog Scale (VAS). Subjects will be asked to rate their worst pain in their shoulder for the previous 24 hours on a 100 mm vertical scale with "0" indicating no pain at all and "100" indicating the worst pain the subject can imagine.

Secondary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Revision surgeryUp to and including 6 weeks
Physical functionUp to and including 6 weeks

As measured by the Western Ontario Rotator Cuff Index (WORC), the Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand Score (DASH), and the Constant Score, administered prior to the surgical intervention, and at 2 weeks, 4 weeks and 6 weeks post-surgery.

Health utilityUp to and including 6 weeks

As measured by the EuroQol-5 Dimensions (EQ-5D) administered prior to the surgical intervention, and at 2 weeks, 4 weeks and 6 weeks post-surgery.

Adverse eventsUp to and including 6 weeks

Trial Locations

Locations (3)

McMaster University

🇨🇦

Hamilton, Ontario, Canada

McMaster Hospital

🇨🇦

Hamilton, Ontario, Canada

Hamilton General Hospital

🇨🇦

Hamilton, Ontario, Canada

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