Platelet-Rich Plasma Versus Home-Based Exercise for Partial-Thickness Supraspinatus Tears

Universidad de Extremadura

Status: Completed

Conditions: Shoulder Pain; Shoulder Joint; Rotator Cuff Injuries

Treatments: Biological: Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP); Other: Home Exercise Program

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT07246434

10

Details and patient eligibility

About

This study evaluates the clinical effectiveness of platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injections compared with a home-based exercise program in patients with partial-thickness tears of the supraspinatus tendon. Partial supraspinatus tears are a common cause of chronic shoulder pain and functional limitation. PRP has been proposed as a biological treatment that may promote tissue healing, while therapeutic exercise remains a standard conservative intervention.

This prospective, controlled study includes two parallel groups. The PRP group receives three monthly ultrasound-guided intratendinous PRP injections, preceded by local anesthesia. The control group follows a structured home-based exercise program for the same overall treatment period. All participants are assessed at baseline and again two months after completing their assigned intervention.

The primary outcome is shoulder pain measured with a Visual Analog Scale (VAS). Secondary outcomes include shoulder range of motion (flexion, extension, abduction, adduction, internal and external rotation) and functional disability measured with the Constant-Murley Score. The study also analyzes whether patient characteristics such as age or sex are associated with clinical improvement.

The aim of this research is to compare two commonly used conservative treatment strategies and provide evidence to guide clinical decision-making for patients with partial-thickness supraspinatus tears.

Enrollment: 40 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 20 to 70 years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• Age between 20 and 70 years.

Shoulder pain for more than 6 months with a Visual Analog Scale (VAS) score > 4.

Partial-thickness tear of the supraspinatus tendon confirmed by ultrasound.

No improvement in VAS after conservative treatment with NSAIDs and/or physical therapy during the previous 6 months.

Willingness to undergo blood extraction and PRP infiltrations as required by the protocol.

Exclusion criteria

• Age < 20 or > 70 years.

Full-thickness tear of the supraspinatus tendon.

Active infection (osteomyelitis, septic arthritis).

Current treatment with NSAIDs, antiplatelet agents, or systemic immunosuppressants.

Severe thrombocytopenia.

Positive serology (syphilis, HIV, HBV, HCV).

Trial design

Primary purpose: Treatment

Allocation: Non-Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: Double Blind

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40 participants in 2 patient groups

PRP Injection

Experimental group

Description:

Participants receive three monthly ultrasound-guided intratendinous injections of platelet-rich plasma (PRP) in the affected supraspinatus tendon, preceded by local anesthetic infiltration in the subacromial bursa.

Treatment:

Biological: Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP)

Home-Based Exercise Program

Active Comparator group

Description:

Active Comparator

Treatment:

Other: Home Exercise Program