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Shoulder

Learn about regenerative therapy for shoulder problems.

Shoulder Tendon Tear – BMAC/PRP

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 – read now.

Quick summary: In a small study assessing treatment of supraspinatus rotator cuff tears with BMAC (bone marrow aspirate concentrate) versus exercise therapy, 61% of the BMAC group had a significant improvement in disability at 3 months and increased to 91% having significant improvement at 12 months, whereas only 40% of the exercise group was improved at 3 months diminishing to only 20% improved at 6 months after therapy.

Full summary: 25 patients with supraspinatus tears (n=14 BMC group, n=11 exercise therapy), ​​The study’s primary outcome of DASH scores demonstrated statistically significant improvement after BMC treatment in comparison to the exercise therapy at 3 months () and trended towards significance at 6 months (). DASH improvements met statistical significance compared to baseline starting at 3 months through the 24-month time point for all patients receiving BMC treatment () (Figure 2). MCID for DASH was met by 61% of the BMC treatment group at the 3-month time point, improved to 91% at the 12-month time point, and was maintained through 24 months (94%). In contrast, the MCID for DASH scores in the exercise therapy group was met by 40% at the 3-month time point and 20% at 6 months (Figure 3). Significant reductions in pain and increase in function after receiving BMC treatment.

Shoulder Osteoarthritis – LipGems/Lipoaspirate

Clinical use of autologous micro-fragmented fat progressively restores pain and function in shoulder osteoarthritis – read now.

Quick summary: MFAT (LipoGems) led to a substantial improvement in disability and decrease in pain in patients with moderate shoulder arthritis.

Full summary: 25 participants, reported significant improvement from baseline with 51.92 ± 4.52% improvement in VAS and 58.78 ± 6.61% improvement in DASH in mild OA cases, and 49.67 ± 9.36% improvement in VAS and 38.39 ± 6.31% improvement in DASH in moderate OA cases.

Shoulder Tendinopathy – PRP

Platelet-rich plasma for rotator cuff tendinopathy: A systematic review and meta-analysis – read now.

Quick summary: Nearly 1000 shoulder tendinopathy patients were included in multiple studies comparing PRP to a control, showing no difference in pain at 1-3 months, but a significant difference favoring PRP at 12 months post-injection which demonstrates that PRP is safe and more effective for long-term shoulder pain and function.

Full summary: 8 articles included (n=976), Pooled data revealed no significant difference in VAS pain scores between patients treated with PRP and controls at 1 and 3-month follow-up. However, a significant difference in favour of PRP was observed at 12 months post-intervention (SMD = −0.5, CI = −0.7, −0.2, P< 0.001), safe and more effective for long-term shoulder pain symptoms and shoulder function.

Shoulder Tendinopathy – PRP

Therapy for Tendinopathies of Rotator Cuff and Long Head of Biceps – read now.

Quick summary: PRP injection in cases of rotator cuff tendinopathy, impingement, and bicep tendon tendinopathy, showed improvement in pain scores by around 30 points and significantly reduced the severity of pain, and improved shoulder function at 6 month follow up.

Full summary: 122 patients (RC tendinopathy (66%), subacromial impingement syndrome and RC tendinopathy (17%) and LHB tendinopathy (17%)), evaluated 1, 3, and 6 months after PRP, UCLA and DASH scores in patients with RC tendinopathy improved at 8.6 and 36.4 points, with subacromial impingement syndrome and RC tendinopathy at 9.6 and 38.8 points, with LHB tendinopathy at 11.5 and 44.1 point, respectively. Significantly reduces severity of pain and improved shoulder joint function during 6 month follow up.

Photo of woman holding her shoulder in pain

Frozen Shoulder – PRP

Platelet-rich plasma injection in the treatment of frozen shoulder: A randomized controlled trial with 6-month follow-up – read now.

Quick summary: Comparing PRP to control in frozen shoulder patients where pain declined in both groups after 1 week, 1 month, and 3 months, but pain was elevated in the control group while it continued to decline in PRP group. Shoulder function also linearly improved in PRP group while it decreased in the control group at 3 months post-injection.

Full summary: 60 patients (30 2mL PRP, 30 procaine), VAS scores were both declined in PRP and control group after 1 week, 1 month, and 3 months of first injection. By contrast, it was elevated in the control group while it continued to decline in PRP group. The UCLA scores were almost linearly improved in the PRP group, while the UCLA scores decreased to a lower level at the final follow-up visit compared to that post 3 months in the control group. PRP more effective and prolonged efficiency.

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