Arthroscopic repair using a biodegradable spacer for severe shoulder tears
Part of Bones, joints & muscles clinical trials.
This study looks at an arthroscopic procedure (a minimally invasive surgery) that includes cleaning the tear and placing a biodegradable spacer to treat painful, severe rotator cuff tears. It may help reduce pain and improve shoulder function in people who have tried non-surgical treatments but still have symptoms.
Summary written for real people, not researchers, by Clin2.
Who can take part
- You have a large (massive) rotator cuff tear causing symptoms in your shoulder.
- Your imaging (CT or MRI) shows severe fat changes in the rotator cuff (fatty infiltration grade 3 or 4, or MRI grade 3–4 by the listed system).
- Your shoulder pain has lasted at least 3 months, and you have already tried non-surgical treatments without enough relief.
- You are between 60 and 85 years old.
- You do not have significant arthritis in the affected shoulder (Hamada score must be 2 or less).
- You do not have a full rupture of the subscapularis tendon or teres minor tendon (per the listed Collins classification), and you can safely take part in follow-up visits.
Quick eligibility check
Answer a few plain-language questions, based on this study's own requirements, to get a preliminary sense of fit.
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