Living Subacromial Bursa-Derived Cells for Rotator Cuff Repair

High proliferation of subacromial bursa-derived cells is still possible in most people with a rotator cuff tear, according to new data.

In the study, “Subacromial Bursa-Derived Cells Demonstrate High Proliferation Potential Regardless of Patient Demographics and Rotator Cuff Tear Characteristics,” published in the November 1, 2020 issue of the journal Arthroscopy, the researchers set out to see if patient demographics and rotator cuff tear characteristics had any effect on the proliferation of subacromial bursa-derived cells.

They collected data on patients undergoing arthroscopic rotator cuff repair between December 2017 and February 2019, including basic demographic information and medical and surgical history.

In addition, subacromial bursa was harvested from over the rotator cuff tendon. After a three-week incubation period, the researchers counted nucleated subacromial burse-derived cells. They also conducted a fluorescence-activated cell sorting analysis to confirm the presence of mesenchymal stem cell specific surface markers.

The researchers used preoperative radiographs and magnetic resonance imaging to evaluate acromiohumeral distance, severity of cuff tear arthropathy, and rotator cuff characteristics.

Overall, 73 patients were included in the study. The mean age was 57.2±8.5 years. The researchers found no significant difference in cellular proliferation of subacromial bursa-derived cells regardless of age, sex, body mass index, smoking status, and presence of systemic comorbidities (p > .05, respectively).

They also found no difference in cellular proliferation of subacromial bursa-derived cells regardless of rotator cuff tear characteristics such as size, tendon retraction, fatty infiltration, and muscle atrophy, or severity of cuff tear arthropathy (p > .05). Analysis showed a high positive rate of mesenchymal stem cell specific surface markers.

The researchers wrote, “Subacromial bursa consistently demonstrated a high cellular proliferation potential regardless of patient demographics, rotator cuff tear characteristics, and severity of glenohumeral joint degeneration.”

They added, “These findings may alleviate concerns that subacromial bursa might lose cellular proliferation potential when being used for biologic augmentation in massive and degenerated rotator cuff tears, this assisting in predicting tendon healing and facilitating surgical decision-making.”