Effect of Human-Derived Collagen Injection on Clinical and Structural Outcomes after Arthroscopic Rotator Cuff...

Area of Science:

• Orthopedic Surgery
• Biomaterials Science
• Regenerative Medicine

Background:

• Arthroscopic rotator cuff repair is a common procedure, but tendon healing failures remain a challenge.
• Previous studies explored porcine-derived collagen for augmentation, but human-derived collagen efficacy is unevaluated.
• This study investigates the use of human-derived collagen in arthroscopic rotator cuff repair.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the clinical and structural efficacy of intraoperative human-derived collagen injection in arthroscopic rotator cuff repair.
• To compare outcomes between patients receiving human-derived collagen and a control group.

Main Methods:

• A prospective, single-center, single-blind, randomized controlled trial was conducted with 60 patients.
• Patients with full-thickness rotator cuff tears were randomized into a human-derived collagen group (n=30) or a control group (n=30).
• Clinical outcomes (functional scores, range of motion, VAS) and structural outcomes (MRI, shear wave elastography) were assessed post-operatively.

Main Results:

• No significant differences in VAS or functional scores were observed between groups.
• External rotation was significantly reduced in the collagen group compared to the control group (p=0.015).
• The collagen group demonstrated significantly lower Sugaya grades on MRI (p=0.003) and greater tendon elasticity (p=0.001).

Conclusions:

• Intraoperative human-derived collagen injection did not improve clinical outcomes in arthroscopic rotator cuff repair.
• However, it significantly enhanced tendon structural integrity and elasticity, indicated by improved MRI and shear wave elastography results.
• Further research may explore optimizing collagen application for better functional recovery.