Cord Tissue Stem Cells Show Promise for Rotator Cuff Repair

Cord Tissue Stem Cells Show Promise for Rotator Cuff Repair

A new clinical trial in South Korea is testing whether cord tissue stem cells can improve healing in patients with rotator cuff injuries. In New Zealand, rotator cuff tears are the most common cause of shoulder pain in people over 35, affecting roughly 25% of people over 60 and 50% of those over 80, and current surgical repair has a re-tear rate of up to 40%.

The Phase 1/2a trial injected umbilical cord-derived mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) into the damaged tendon, and a long-term follow-up study is now tracking patients for five years — measuring pain, shoulder function, and tear size on MRI. Earlier laboratory research using cord blood-derived MSCs showed partial healing of full-thickness rotator cuff tears without surgery.

Learn more about the clinical trial here.