Clinical Research Directory

Displaced Greater Tuberosity Fractures With Rotator Cuff Injury

Study Type: Prospective, three-arm parallel randomized controlled trial (RCT) Study Objective: To compare the 12-month/5 years/10years functional outcomes, morphological healing, cost-effectiveness, and complication rates of three treatment strategies for displaced greater tuberosity (GT) fractures with rotator cuff injury, and to optimize the individualized treatment strategy for GT fractures. Study Setting: multicenter clinical trial, conducted in the Department of Orthopedics. Study Period: April 2026 -April 2036.

Muscle Fiber Fragments for Improved Function of Rotator Cuff Musculature Following Rotator Cuff Repair

In this study, a chest muscle sample (biopsy) will be taken and the muscle fibers will be removed from the sample and made into smaller strands or fragments. During this same procedure, those muscle fiber fragments (MFFs) will then be injected directly into the supraspinatus muscle. Once injected, the MFFs will remain in the supraspinatus where Investigators believe the MFF will become part of the participants' existing muscle and provide increased muscle size and strength, improving function (rotator cuff strength and stability).

Postoperative Rotator Cuff Rehabilitation: Functional, Pain and Sleep Quality

Rotator cuff injuries are the third leasing cause of pain and disability, accounting for 16% of all musculoskeletal injuries. Following surgical intervention, patients typically undergo a 4 to 6 week immobilization period before starting physical therapy. This rehabilitation phase can last between 4 to 6 months. Despite this, there is currently a lack of clear guidelines regarding specific physical therapy protocols or the expected post surgical recovery for patients who have undergone rotator cuff repair.

Arthroscopic Treatment of Rotator Cuff Tears

Rotator cuff tears are the primary cause of shoulder pain and functional impairment, accounting for 50% to 85% of shoulder disorders. With the acceleration of population aging in China and the increasing demand for sports brought about by the improvement of economic standards, rotator cuff tears have gradually become a significant social health problem that cannot be ignored. Currently, arthroscopic rotator cuff repair is the standard treatment for rotator cuff tears. However, studies have shown that the average re-tear rate after rotator cuff repair surgery is 26.6%, which can be as high as 95% for massive rotator cuff tears. Therefore, how to prevent the occurrence of re-tears after arthroscopic rotator cuff repair and improve surgical outcomes has become a hot spot for research in the field of shoulder arthroscopy. Based on previous clinical experience, our team developed an M-shaped suture technique for arthroscopic rotator cuff repair. Clinical observations have shown that the re-tear rate at one-year post-surgery is 8%, which is significantly lower than what has been reported in the literature. However, there is currently a lack of comparative studies on the efficacy of this technique versus traditional single-row and double-row suture techniques. Moreover, the current research evidence on the prognostic factors affecting rotator cuff repair surgery is conflicting, and there is still a lack of high-quality cohort studies to screen for risk factors for poor prognosis. This project aims to establish a high-quality ambispective cohort for minimally invasive arthroscopic surgery for rotator cuff tears, to compare the clinical efficacy of the M-shaped suture technique with traditional techniques, and to identify risk factors related to the prognosis after rotator cuff repair surgery. This will provide high-quality, real-world evidence to optimize the new suture technique and develop a clinical prediction model for re-tears after rotator cuff suture repair. In the long term, the project will conduct embedded intervention studies to address modifiable risk factors (including lifestyle interventions and optimization of rehabilitation protocols) and verify whether these interventions can enhance prognostic outcomes, so as to better develop a more scientific and rational management and treatment plan for patients with rotator cuff tears. We aim to address the challenge of low tendon-bone healing rates and high re-tear rates in rotator cuff repair surgery, and provide reliable, effective, and cost-effective treatment options for patients.

Early Recovery After Surgery (ERAS)/Prehabilitation - Randomized Controlled Trial on the Implementation of ERAS/prehabilitation in Elective Reconstructive Shoulder Surgery

The aim of this randomized controlled trial is to investigate whether the intervention can improve the clinical outcome and patient satisfaction in elective reconstructive shoulder surgeries. The study participants are adults with a diagnosed rotator cuff tear for which surgical treatment is planned. This main question is to be answered by the study: • Does prehabilitation before elective shoulder surgeries lead to an improvement in postoperative outcomes and patient satisfaction compared to the control group? The control group receives standard information about the hospital stay, while the intervention group undergoes the prehabilitation program in the approximately 6 weeks prior to surgery. This program includes: * Information on the condition and pain management * Recommendations for behavior modification * A home exercise program Primary endpoint is the Western Ontario Rotator Cuff Index (WORC). The assessments are conducted at four time points: at study enrollment, immediately before surgery, and at 6, 12, and 24 months after surgery.

Real Dry Needling and Placebo Dry Needling Applied With and Without Ultrasound Guidance on the Infraspinatus Muscle

The infraspinatus muscle is one of the four muscles that form the rotator cuff. The dry needling technique involves inserting a sterile needle to stimulate a myofascial trigger point with the aim of reducing pain and increasing range of motion and quality of life. This technique can be performed using ultrasound guidance, which allows us to visualize the needle at all times, but it can also be done using anatomical landmarks. This study includes a self-directed exercise plan for rotator cuff tendinopathy. Variables such as strength, shoulder functionality level, grip strength, and active range of motion will be measured. As part of the intervention, two dry needling sessions will be performed, 14 days apart, along with two different exercise programs. Three measurements will be taken, and the intervention will last for 6 weeks. The sample will be divided into four equal groups: Group 1: ultrasound-guided real dry needling; Group 2: ultrasound-guided placebo dry needling; Group 3: non-ultrasound-guided real dry needling; and Group 4: non-ultrasound-guided placebo dry needling