Shoulder Supraspinatus Tears and Stem Cell Therapy

Shoulder pain may have diverse underlying causes. Arthritis is a leading cause. A common but often misunderstood problem is supraspinatus tears.

These tears often are not surgical, or surgery may not address the problem with partial supraspinatus tears. Stem cell treatments have been used for the treatment of supraspinatus tears.

Understanding supraspinatus tears is best when some anatomy is known.

The supraspinatus is one of four rotator cuff muscles. The rotator cuff is formed by the tendons of the supraspinatus, the infraspinatus, the teres minor and the subscapularis.

The tendons converge upon the humeral head to form a protective cuff that also helps with stabilization. The supraspinatus also initiates shoulder elevation from the side (abduction).

The supraspinatus tendon passes under the subacromial arch, where it may be impinged by bone spurs. Downward sloping acromiums can predispose to this. Frequently, bursitis is also present. The impingement effect is enhanced with overhead and externally rotated positions and motions.

Athletes who use their arm in repetitive motions or some occupations predispose to this as well.

The supraspinatus may be inflamed (tendinitis), scarred (tendinosis), impinged, partially torn, or completely torn. Complete supraspinatus tears will result in the inability to initiate shoulder abduction. Chronic problems from lack of full range of motion may result in adhesive capsulitis or frozen shoulder.

Regenerative Medicine treatment approaches for rotator cuff disorders, have included Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP) and Stem Cell Therapy. PRP is a concentrated source of the patients own platelets via centrifugation.

There are many ways to prepare PRP, and not all PRP is the same. Stem cell concentrates are the patients own cells in most cases. This is the only accepted method currently in the United States. There are also many ways to arrive at stem cell concentrates, with many names, and just as in PRP, not all stem cell concentrates are the same.

This is very complex and quite simply no two patients are alike, therefore stem cell sources will vary as well. Understanding the complexity of Regenerative Medicine is a skill unto itself. This approach of individualized care is the optimal way to provide the best outcome for various patients.