Microfragmented adipose tissue in the treatment of a full-thickness supraspinatus tear: a case report
- PMID: 37727974
- DOI: 10.2217/rme-2023-0086
Microfragmented adipose tissue in the treatment of a full-thickness supraspinatus tear: a case report
Abstract
A 70-year-old female presented with an 8-month history of right anterior shoulder pain and weakness, unresolved with conservative management. Among other shoulder pathology, the patient was diagnosed with a full-thickness supraspinatus tear and elected to proceed with the microfragmented adipose tissue procedure to treat the injured tendon and nearby relevant structures. Improvements in pain and function were documented along with progressive healing of the supraspinatus on ultrasound and MRI following the procedure. This case demonstrates the efficacy of microfragmented adipose tissue as a relatively novel approach to treating non-retracted, full-thickness rotator cuff tears.
Keywords: Lipogems; autologous mesenchymal stem cells; microfragmented adipose tissue; rotator cuff tears; ultrasound.
Plain language summary
Fat is an excellent source of stem cells and collagen protein fibers known as a matrix. Mesenchymal stem cells can differentiate into a variety of other cell types. Collagen provides structure and is a major component of muscles and tendons. When transferring stem cells from one's own fat, these cells can support the body's repair process of injured tissue, such as rotator cuff tears of the shoulder. In this case, a patient with a long history of shoulder pain and weakness was diagnosed with a full-thickness tear of one of the four muscles that make up the rotator cuff. Full-thickness tears, compared with partial-thickness tears, are larger, deeper tears that extend across the tendon. This is an injury that has historically been limited to either conservative management (living with the pain) or surgery. The patient underwent a nonsurgical alternative, known as the microfragmented adipose tissue procedure, to repair the injured tendon. Fat was transferred from her hips and injected into the rotator cuff tear of the shoulder. She experienced improvements in pain and function as the tendon healed, documented using ultrasound and MRI. This case supports the benefit of microfragmented adipose tissue, a newer, less invasive approach to treating musculoskeletal injuries, even those as severe as a full-thickness rotator cuff tear.