A considerable amount of surgical reattachments of rotator cuff tendons to bone fails

A considerable amount of surgical reattachments of rotator cuff tendons to bone fails: the cellular and molecular processes responsible for tendon-to-bone healing are unable to form of functional attachment of sufficient strength. The insertion of platelet-rich fibrin (PRFM) might accelerate and increase quality of tendon healing. In this study, 79 patients - 40 of which were allocated to the experimental group and 39 to the control group - underwent arthroscopic repair techniques; tendon healing was evaluated by ultrasound at 6 and 12 weeks. Secondary outcome measures were standardized shoulder outcome scales and muscle strength, measured with a handheld dynamometer. 

Insertion of autologous PRFM at the tendon-bone junction during surgery did not have positive effects on tissue healing, tendon vascularity, muscle strength or symptoms. Linear regression analyses even suggested a possible detrimental effect of the application of PRFM on tendon healing; this finding however should be interpreted with caution due to the relatively small number of patients > from Rodeo et al.; Am J Sports Med 40 (2012) 1234-1241. All rights reserved to the author(s).