Use of Nanoscaffold Augmentation in Rotator Cuff Repair: Clinical Outcome and Ultrasound Assessment of Healing Rates and Vascularity

Patients indicated for rotator cuff repair surgery will be offered participation within the study and consented accordingly. A copy of the consent will be provided to the participant. A preoperative ultrasonographic assessment will occur by Dr. Onishi. A randomization process by computer program will determine patients who have Rotium augmented repairs, or not. The patients will not be blinded.

The surgery will be carried out by a single surgeon making all aspects uniform, except if there is or is not a Rotium patch. The Rotium patch will be implanted in accordance to standards of handling sterile implants and placed in a manner that is consistent to its FDA approval. The patch will be furnished by the institution where the surgery is being performed. Digital photography will document pertinent arthroscopic operative findings per standard of care.

Participant assessment will commence preoperatively in an outpatient clinic then continue in postoperative period, occurring at 2, 4, 6 weeks and 3, 6 and 12 month intervals. During each visit, the participants will be assessed by two clinicians: the principal investigator and a blinded ultrasonographer.

Preoperative assessment will include obtaining baseline patient reported outcomes (UCLA, Rowe, Constant, American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons (ASES) score and SANE (Single Alpha Numeric Evaluation)scores) by paper questionnaire. A medical history will document NSAID use, cortisone injections about the shoulder, tobacco usage, narcotic medicine consumption, and pregnancy status. Due to their deleterious effects on healing, all patients will be instructed to not take NSAIDs in the first 6 weeks postoperative. Noncompliance will be noted, but not disqualify the participant from study. Smoking cessation will be strongly encouraged. A shoulder physical examination will be performed; specifically range of motion assessment in multiple planes (frontal flexion, internal and external rotation at 90 degrees of abduction and at side), rotator cuff muscle strength testing with the scapula stabilized, scapula posture observed, and provocative tests for impingement syndrome. Medical records will be reviewed. This evaluation will be performed by the principal investigator and will take 45-60 minutes. The participant will undergo a separate diagnostic ultrasonographic assessment of the rotator cuff tendons by blinded ultrasonographer. This will take 15-30 minutes.

Aftercare of each population will be identical and will include a 6-week period of sling immobilization, brief perioperative narcotic medicine, and physical therapy. Physical therapy protocols will be identical. The participants will be treated by a variety of physical therapists. All physical therapy will occur out of the home at a PT clinic. Additional home exercises will be furnished and will be independently performed by the participants.

Specifically, at the 2-week postoperative visit a history will be obtained to quantify narcotic usage, NSAID usage, VAS pain score, and assess for any complications. The surgical site and sling will be inspected, passive range of motion of the shoulder assessed (frontal flexion and external rotation at the side), and the examine will exclude any complications. Physical therapy for shoulder passive range of motion and periscapular strengthening will be prescribed, home exercise sheet provided, and the abduction portion of the sling will be discontinued. Shoulder radiographs will be performed. This visit will take 15-30 minutes. In addition and separate to this,blinded ultrasonographer will perform ultrasound assessment of the repaired rotator cuff. Vascularity using superb microvascular imaging and standard ultrasound techniques will assess vascularity and rotator cuff repair integrity. If possible, elastography will be performed. These images will be stored in de-identified manner within University of Pittsburgh HIPPA-compliant cloud. This will take 15-30 minutes and may be done at a separate time.

At the 4-week postoperative visit a history will be obtained to quantify narcotic usage, NSAID usage, pain score, and assess for any complications. The surgical site and sling will be inspected, passive range of motion of the shoulder (frontal flexion and external rotation at the side) assessed, and the examine will exclude any complications. The prior physical therapy and home exercises will be continued. This visit will take 15-30 minutes. In addition and separate to this, blinded ultrasonographer will perform ultrasound assessment of the repaired rotator cuff. This will take 15-30 minutes and may be done at a separate time.

At the 6-week postoperative visit a history will be obtained to quantify narcotic usage, NSAID usage, pain score, and assess for any complications. The surgical site and sling will be inspected, passive range of motion of the shoulder (frontal flexion, internal and external rotation at 90 degrees of abduction and at side) assessed, and the examine will exclude any complications. The sling will be discontinued and new physical therapy and home exercises will be provided; therapy will include shoulder passive range of motion and periscapular strengthening and include rotator cuff strengthening progressing from isometric to concentric then to eccentric with the pace being determined by a physical therapist, but done in a pain free manner. Additionally, patient reported outcomes (UCLA, Rowe, Constant, ASES and SANE scores) will be collected. This visit will take 30-45 minutes. In addition and separate to this, blinded ultrasonographer will perform ultrasound assessment of the repaired rotator cuff. This will take 15-30 minutes and may be done at a separate time.

At the 3-, 6- and 12-month postoperative visits a history will be obtained to assess shoulder functionality/limitations, quantify NSAID usage, pain score, and assess for any complications. The examination will be similar to the 6-week evaluation, except rotator cuff specific strength will be assessed similar to the preoperative testing. Necessity of ongoing physical therapy will be considered and ordered appropriately. Home exercises will be continued. These visits will take 30-45 minutes. In addition and separate to this, blinded ultrasonographer will perform ultrasound assessment of the repaired rotator cuff. This will take 15-30 minutes and may be done at a separate time.