A pilot study to evaluate microfragmented adipose tissue injections under ultrasound guidance for the treatment of refractory rotator cuff disease in wheelchair users with spinal cord injury

Available at: https://doi.org/10.1080/10790268.2021.1903140

Commentary

This pilot clinical study will be conducted to establish the safety and therapeutic efficacy of microfragmented adipose tissue (MFAT) injections under ultrasound guidance in wheelchair users with chronic shoulder pain.

Ten wheelchair users with chronic SCI who had refractory rotator cuff disease (diagnosed by ultrasound) were treated with ultrasound-guided injections of MFAT into pathological rotator cuff tendons and other abnormal shoulder structures (e.g., acromioclavicular and glenohumeral joints, subacromial bursa).

As a result, there were no serious adverse events throughout the intervention period, and the WUSPI, NRS, and BPI-I7 scores were significantly lower at 6 and 12 months after treatment. (P <.05)

Among those who did not drop out, clinically meaningful changes (>30% reduction) in WUSPI, NRS, and BPI-I7 scores were observed in 77.8%, 77.8%, and 66.7% of participants, respectively.　All but one participant reported an improvement in clinical status, indicating that ultrasound-guided MFAT injections may be a safe and effective treatment for intractable shoulder pain caused by rotator cuff disease in wheelchair users with SCI.

The results have prompted the initiation of a large randomized controlled trial.