Rotator cuff repair: Update on biological strategies

Biologic augmentation has gained a lot of interest in recent years, as clinicians search for a solution for difficult rotator cuff tears. Platelet rich plasma is compelling as platelets contain several growth factors known to contribute to soft tissue healing. Unfortunately, there is little data to support routine use in the clinical setting. A few studies show there may be a benefit in some larger tears, but results have not been consistent among investigators. Mesenchymal stem cells are undifferentiated cells present in many different tissues. Research investigating the optimal source and delivery mechanism is ongoing, and its usefulness in the setting of rotator cuff disease will hopefully be established.