Rotator cuff repair augmentation with platelet rich plasma

Rotator cuff tendon tears are a common source of shoulder pain and combine both traumatic and degenerative issues. Despite multiple surgical techniques to improve bone to tendon healing, recurrent tearing of the rotator cuff is still a significant postoperative issue. Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) is a fraction of whole blood containing powerful growth factors and cytokines. Basic science and preclinical studies suggest PRP may be useful for tendon repair or regeneration. Rotator cuff studies, however, have produced conflicting results based on PRP formulation, surgical technique, and size of the tendon tear. This chapter explores and summarizes the available evidence to determine the efficacy of arthroscopic rotator cuff repair in patients with full-thickness rotator cuff tears who were concomitantly treated with PRP.