Not Yet RecruitingNot Applicable

Platelet-Rich Plasma for Partial Rotator Cuff Tears

100 participantsStarted 2026-06-01

Plain-language summary

The goal of this clinical trial is to learn whether platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injection, made from a participant's own blood, can help heal the tendon and improve shoulder symptoms in people with partial tears of the supraspinatus tendon. The main questions it aims to answer are: * Does PRP help the tendon heal? * Does PRP improve pain, shoulder movement, daily function, and shoulder magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings? Researchers will compare PRP plus standard of care (physical therapy) to standard of care alone to see if PRP leads to better healing and better clinical results. Researchers will also study if differences in specific biomolecules in PRP are associated with differences in treatment response. Participants will: * receive standard of care treatment, with or without PRP injection depending on the study group * have blood collected for PRP preparation * have their pain, shoulder movement, and shoulder function assessed * undergo shoulder MRI scans * be followed over time to measure healing and symptom improvement

Who can participate

Age range

18 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: * Eligible patients are at least 18 years old, and have clinical (VAS pain score ≥4, loss of \>25% in ROM, positive in at least one clinical test such as Jobe, Neer, Drop arm, Hawins-Kennedy, Patte) and imaging findings compatible with partial supraspinatus tear, within 3 months of diagnosis. * Patients may have undergone conservative treatments, including lifestyle modification, oral analgesics, or physical therapy, with the exception of shoulder injections. * Must be willing to provide consent. Exclusion Criteria: * Patients less than 18 years old * Patients with other or concomitant rotator cuff or shoulder muscle/tendon tear(s), complete tears, SLAP tears ≥ grade 2 * Patients with auto-immune based joint diseases, osteoarthritis (KL grade ≥ 2), adhesive capsulitis, infection, nerve-related conditions, immunocompromised conditions, malignancy, coagulopathy * Patients on antiplatelet, anticoagulant, antitumor or immunosuppressive drugs * Uncontrolled diabetes, other systemic disorders (hepatitis, rheumatoid arthritis) * Pregnancy * Shoulder instability * Previous shoulder injection or surgery * Unwillingness to provide informed consent

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

Change From Baseline in Target Shoulder Pain Intensity Measured by Visual Analog Scale (VAS)

Timeframe: At Diagnosis and 1, 3, 6, 12 and 24 month follow-ups

Trial details

NCT IDNCT07659600

SponsorUniversidade Nova de Lisboa

Sponsor typeOTHER

Study typeINTERVENTIONAL

Primary completion2029-06-01

Contact for this trial

António Proença Caetano, Medical Doctor

00351913746170 aprocaetano@gmail.com

View on ClinicalTrials.gov More Partial Supraspinatus Tear trials