Biological augmentation strategies in rotator cuff repair

Rotator cuff tears (RCT) are a common problem encountered by orthopaedic surgeons. The incidence of re-tears (up to 94%) following surgical repair of RCTs renders the management of RCTs challenging. This higher re-tear rate has been attributed to the failure of healing at the tendon-bone junction. Biological augmentation methods such as growth factors, stem cell therapies, and biomaterials have been developed to promote the healing at the tendon-bone junction. Growth factors and stem cell therapies have been intensively studied in mid to large RCTs. Biomaterials have been generally utilized for large or massive RCTs. However, these newly generated biological augmentation strategies are mostly studied in animal models. The efficacy and safety of the biological augmentation methods in humans need further investigation. In this review, we aimed to highlight the most recent advancements in RCT surgical repair with biological augmentation.