Editorial Commentary: Bone Marrow Stimulation and Losartan Augmentation of Shoulder Rotator Cuff Repair

Abstract

Rotator cuff retear rates after repair have been variously reported as ranging from 5% to 40% for small to mediums tears and as high as 40% to 94% for large to massive tears. Thus strategies to enhance structural healing are relevant. In rabbits, combining oral losartan (which has antifibrotic effects by downregulating transforming growth factor-β1) and bone marrow stimulation (BMS) of the greater tuberosity, showed improved rotator cuff repair pull-out strength and highly organized tendon matrix in a chronic injury model, whereas BMS alone did not improve the mechanical properties. However, clinical studies show that BMS techniques have a positive impact on healing and retear rates. BMS stimulates migration of mesenchymal stem cells from bone marrow to the lesion, and this approach has been widely used to fill cartilage defects by fibrocartilage metaplasia. BMS is a straightforward and cost-effective technique; the use of multiple deeper bone tunnels is recommended.