Rotator Cuff Failure With Continuity (NCT02716441) | Clinical Trial Compass
Active — Not RecruitingNot Applicable
Rotator Cuff Failure With Continuity
United States125 participantsStarted 2016-09
Plain-language summary
This proposal's objective is to challenge and expand the current definition of rotator cuff healing by investigating tendon retraction - broadly defined as medial translation of the repaired tendon away from the bone with or without a defect - as a common and clinically predictive structural outcome following rotator cuff repair. The investigators' central hypothesis is that failure with continuity is a common yet unrecognized structural phenomenon of rotator cuff healing that is significantly and meaningfully correlated with clinical outcomes. The investigators' approach is to characterize tendon retraction using an array of implanted radio-opaque markers, and investigate its relationship to pre-operative tissue quality (MRI), post-operative repair structural integrity (MRI) and clinical outcomes in a 125-patient prospective cohort study. These patients will complete (1) validated questionnaires and range of motion testing pre-operatively, (2) CT imaging at day of surgery, 3 weeks, 3 and 6 months, and 1, 2 and 5 years post-operatively, (3) MRI at 3 weeks, 3 and 6 months, and 1, 2 and 5 years post-operatively and (4) questionnaires, range of motion and strength testing at 3 and 6 months and 1, 2 and 5 years post-operatively.
Who can participate
Age range
18 Years – 75 Years
Sex
ALL
See this in plain English?
AI-rewrites the medical criteria so a patient or caregiver can understand them. Always confirm with the trial site.
Inclusion Criteria:
* Males or females, ages 18-75 having an acute or chronic 1-5 cm wide (A-P) full thickness tear of only the supraspinatus and/or infraspinatus tendons; partial thickness tears of subscapularis or teres minor not requiring repair are allowed.
* The tear must be fully reparable arthroscopically by a double row technique.
* Final determination of eligibility will be made at surgery when above inclusion criteria are confirmed.
Exclusion Criteria:
* Prior shoulder surgery (including rotator cuff repair)
* Symptomatic cervical spine disease
* A frozen shoulder-- defined as a loss of passive range of motion (ROM) of more than 20° in any plane compared to the contralateral shoulder,
* Glenohumeral arthritis grade 3 or 4-- defined as full thickness cartilage loss on MRI and confirmed at arthroscopy
* Worker's compensation cases
* Subscapularis tears of any size that require repair
Questions worth asking your doctor
Bring these to your next appointment. They're a starting point for a shared conversation — not a sign you qualify or a recommendation to enrol.
1Based on my diagnosis and history, is this trial worth exploring for me — or is there a standard treatment we should try first?
2What does this trial's phase tell us about how much is already known about its safety and benefit?
3What would taking part actually involve for me — visits, tests, time, and travel?
4What are the known and possible risks or side effects I should weigh, and how would they be monitored?
5If this trial isn't the right fit, what other options or trials would you suggest I look into?
Generated to help you prepare — always confirm anything about your own eligibility and care with the study team and your doctor.
Questions for the trial coordinator
The trial coordinator is the person who runs the study day to day. These cover the practical side — logistics, costs, and what taking part would actually mean for your life. The study team confirms whether you meet the criteria; these are questions to ask, not a sign you qualify.
1What does taking part actually involve week to week — how many visits, where, and how long does each one take?
2What costs are covered by the study, and what might I have to pay for myself, including travel, parking, or time off work?
3What happens during screening, and what happens if the study team confirms I don't meet the criteria after those tests?
4Who pays for the scans, blood work, and other tests the trial requires — the study, my insurance, or me?
5How will being in the trial affect my regular care, and will my own doctor stay informed and involved?
6Can I leave the trial at any point if I change my mind, and what would happen to my care if I do?
A starting point for the conversation — always confirm anything about your own eligibility, costs, and care with the study team and your doctor.
What they're measuring
1
Change in Tendon Retraction
Timeframe: Day of surgery and 1, 2 and 5 years following rotator cuff repair