We compared the clinical course of rotator cuff tears between exercise and bone marrow aspirate concentration (BMAC)-platelet rich plasma (PRP) injection to identify the therapeutic effects of BMAC-PRP on rotator cuff tears.

Twenty-four patients with partial rotator cuff tear participated in this study (Fig. 1). Twelve patients underwent extraction of BMACs and PRP and received the injection of BMAC-PRP at the tear site under ultrasound guidance (Fig. 2). Twelve patients in the control group were asked to perform the rotator cuff exercise for 3 months. Visual analog scale (VAS) and manual muscle test (MMT) scores of the supraspinatus muscle were measured and the American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons (ASES) score was recorded before, three weeks, and three months after injection. Tear size was measured by the greatest longitudinal tear length.

The change in the VAS differed between groups at three months (P=0.039) but not at three weeks (P=0.147). The ASES scores in the BMAC-PRP group changed from 39.4±13.0 to 54.5±11.5 at three weeks and 74.1±8.5 at three months while those in the control group changed from 45.9±12.4 to 56.3±12.3 at three weeks (P=0.712) and 62.2±12.2 at three months (P=0.011). The tear size decreased at three weeks or three months after the BMAC-PRP injection but was not significantly different from that in the control group (Fig. 3).

BMAC-PRP improved pain and shoulder function in patients with rotator cuff tear.