LifeNet: Extracellular Matrix Graft in Rotator Cuff Repair

NCT ID: NCT03551509

Last Updated: 2025-06-19

Study Results

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Basic Information

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Recruitment Status

TERMINATED

Clinical Phase

PHASE4

Total Enrollment

9 participants

Study Classification

INTERVENTIONAL

Study Start Date

2018-07-01

Study Completion Date

2024-06-30

Brief Summary

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This trial is to evaluate the effectiveness of the ArthroFLEX® ECM scaffold graph as an augment in rotator cuff repair surgery to reduce the failure rate of rotator cuff repairs for large and massive rotator cuff tears.

Detailed Description

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This is a prospective, randomized, controlled, multi-center clinical trial to evaluate the effectiveness of an ECM scaffold graft to augment repair of a large/massive rotator cuff tear. The study will involve 70 patients. 35 patients will be randomly assigned to each arm of the study.

Despite advances in surgical technology, repairs of large (3-5 cm) and massive (\>5 cm) rotator cuff tears (RCT) fail between 20%-90% of the time \[1\]. Due to their size and increased structural involvement, large or massive RCT present a substantial challenge to orthopaedic surgeons. \[16\] The repairs tend to fail at the suture-tendon junction, which is due to several factors, including tension at the repair and quality of the tendon \[1-2,5\]. Full thickness tears are uncommon in younger patients, especially those less than forty years old and are usually traumatic in etiology. Younger patients also typically fair better following arthroscopic rotator cuff repair with fewer failures and more successful return to pre-injury level of function \[16\]. One strategy to augment repair of large to massive rotator cuff tears has been the development of biological scaffold materials, which are composed of extracellular matrix (ECM). The ECM composing the scaffolds are made from a number of tissues, including, but not limited to, small intestinal submucosa (SIS), dermis, and pericardium \[3\]. Studies to date include both prospective and retrospective in animal and human models, and include Restore, a porcine-derived SIS by DePuy Orthopaedics, GraftJacket, a human-derived, non-cross-linked dermis graft by Wright Medical Technology, and Zimmer Collagen Repair, a cross-linked porcine derived dermal graft made by Zimmer. Restore studies have shown no benefit and some even an increase in repair failure with recommendations not to use to augment repair. GraftJacket studies have shown a reduction in graft failure; however, several of the Restore and GraftJacket studies are limited by a lack of a control cohort. The Zimmer graft studies have conflicting results with both an improvement and no improvement in failure rates of repair. The prior studies listed are all in vivo; however, the majority are not randomized trials and thus do not have a control with which to compare data. In addition, some trials include open repairs. A lack of prospective, randomized, controlled, in vivo trials exist that evaluate the ability of the ECM scaffold graft augmentation in large to massive arthroscopic rotator cuff repairs to decrease the failure rate.

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the efficacy of using the Arthroflex (A-FLEX) graft to augment large to massive arthroscopic rotator cuff repairs in vivo and decrease repair failures in a prospective, randomized, controlled trial. By undergoing serial US examinations at follow-ups, we also intend to evaluate when during the postoperative period the failure of the repair occurs.

Conditions

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Rotator Cuff Tear

Study Design

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Allocation Method

RANDOMIZED

Intervention Model

PARALLEL

Primary Study Purpose

TREATMENT

Blinding Strategy

SINGLE

Participants

Study Groups

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Control Treatment Group

Patients randomly assigned into the control group will undergo open or arthroscopic rotator cuff repair using the surgeon's standard practice. No ECM graft will be used.

Group Type ACTIVE_COMPARATOR

Control

Intervention Type PROCEDURE

This group will undergo rotator cuff repair surgery, but will not receive the ECM scaffold graft.

Treatment Group

Patients randomly assigned into the treatment group will undergo open or arthroscopic rotator cuff repair with A-FLEX graft to augment the repair. ECM scaffold grafts are indicated for the reinforcement of soft tissues repaired by sutures or suture anchors during tendon repair surgery, including rotator cuff.

Group Type ACTIVE_COMPARATOR

ArthroFLEX ECM scaffold graft

Intervention Type PROCEDURE

In patients receiving a graft, thru mini open technique the lateral portal incision will be extended vertically approximately 5-6 cm. A standard, deltoid-splitting, mini-open approach will then be performed, leaving the deltoid attachment to the acromion intact. For arthroscopic technique same method of fixation will be used below. The dermis graft will be sized and cut so as to cover the entire repair site in both medial-lateral and anterior-posterior dimensions.

Alternative Treatment Group

Patients who meet pre-op inclusion criteria where a repair cannot be accomplished due to intraoperative findings will remain in the study. This group will be analyzed separately and still follow study procedures.

Group Type OTHER

Alternative Treatment Group

Intervention Type BIOLOGICAL

Patients who meet pre-op inclusion criteria where a repair cannot be accomplished due to intraoperative findings will remain in the study. This group will be analyzed separately and still follow study procedures.

Interventions

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Alternative Treatment Group

Patients who meet pre-op inclusion criteria where a repair cannot be accomplished due to intraoperative findings will remain in the study. This group will be analyzed separately and still follow study procedures.

Intervention Type BIOLOGICAL

ArthroFLEX ECM scaffold graft

In patients receiving a graft, thru mini open technique the lateral portal incision will be extended vertically approximately 5-6 cm. A standard, deltoid-splitting, mini-open approach will then be performed, leaving the deltoid attachment to the acromion intact. For arthroscopic technique same method of fixation will be used below. The dermis graft will be sized and cut so as to cover the entire repair site in both medial-lateral and anterior-posterior dimensions.

Intervention Type PROCEDURE

Control

This group will undergo rotator cuff repair surgery, but will not receive the ECM scaffold graft.

Intervention Type PROCEDURE

Other Intervention Names

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Surgery with ECM graft Surgery without ECM graft Repair cannot be accomplished

Eligibility Criteria

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Inclusion Criteria

* Patients with a large (2.5-5 cm) to massive (\>5 cm) rotator cuff tear who will be undergoing open or arthroscopic repair. The cuff tear size will be determined on either pre-operative magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), or ultrasound (US), or intra-operative measurements, or computerized tomography (CT).
* Patients who are willing and able to provide written informed consent for their involvement in the study.
* Patients who meet criteria for RCR surgery
* Patients older than 18 years of age

Exclusion Criteria

* Those with a known sensitivity to materials of porcine origin.
* Patients with addiction to illegal drugs, solvents or alcohol who are actively using or have previously attempted and failed a treatment program.
* Patients with bacteremia, a systemic infection, or infection of the surgical site.
* All those who are prisoners.
* Patients who are pregnant or nursing.
* All those with a condition that may limit a patient's ability to finalize the study or that may cause an undue risk to the patient's health and well-being.
Minimum Eligible Age

18 Years

Eligible Sex

ALL

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Sponsors

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LifeNet Health

INDUSTRY

Sponsor Role collaborator

The Cleveland Clinic

OTHER

Sponsor Role collaborator

Gregory Gilot

OTHER

Sponsor Role lead

Responsible Party

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Gregory Gilot

Staff Physician

Responsibility Role SPONSOR_INVESTIGATOR

Principal Investigators

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Gregory J Gilot, MD

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Cleveland Clinic Florida

Locations

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Cleveland Clinic Florida

Weston, Florida, United States

Site Status

Countries

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United States

References

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Derwin KA, Badylak SF, Steinmann SP, Iannotti JP. Extracellular matrix scaffold devices for rotator cuff repair. J Shoulder Elbow Surg. 2010 Apr;19(3):467-76. doi: 10.1016/j.jse.2009.10.020. Epub 2010 Feb 26.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 20189415 (View on PubMed)

Schlegel TF, Hawkins RJ, Lewis CW, Motta T, Turner AS. The effects of augmentation with Swine small intestine submucosa on tendon healing under tension: histologic and mechanical evaluations in sheep. Am J Sports Med. 2006 Feb;34(2):275-80. doi: 10.1177/0363546505279912. Epub 2005 Oct 6.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 16210577 (View on PubMed)

Badylak SF, Freytes DO, Gilbert TW. Extracellular matrix as a biological scaffold material: Structure and function. Acta Biomater. 2009 Jan;5(1):1-13. doi: 10.1016/j.actbio.2008.09.013. Epub 2008 Oct 2.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 18938117 (View on PubMed)

Sclamberg SG, Tibone JE, Itamura JM, Kasraeian S. Six-month magnetic resonance imaging follow-up of large and massive rotator cuff repairs reinforced with porcine small intestinal submucosa. J Shoulder Elbow Surg. 2004 Sep-Oct;13(5):538-41. doi: 10.1016/j.jse.2004.03.005.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 15383811 (View on PubMed)

Iannotti JP, Codsi MJ, Kwon YW, Derwin K, Ciccone J, Brems JJ. Porcine small intestine submucosa augmentation of surgical repair of chronic two-tendon rotator cuff tears. A randomized, controlled trial. J Bone Joint Surg Am. 2006 Jun;88(6):1238-44. doi: 10.2106/JBJS.E.00524.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 16757756 (View on PubMed)

Walton JR, Bowman NK, Khatib Y, Linklater J, Murrell GA. Restore orthobiologic implant: not recommended for augmentation of rotator cuff repairs. J Bone Joint Surg Am. 2007 Apr;89(4):786-91. doi: 10.2106/JBJS.F.00315.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 17403801 (View on PubMed)

Zheng MH, Chen J, Kirilak Y, Willers C, Xu J, Wood D. Porcine small intestine submucosa (SIS) is not an acellular collagenous matrix and contains porcine DNA: possible implications in human implantation. J Biomed Mater Res B Appl Biomater. 2005 Apr;73(1):61-7. doi: 10.1002/jbm.b.30170.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 15736287 (View on PubMed)

Bond JL, Dopirak RM, Higgins J, Burns J, Snyder SJ. Arthroscopic replacement of massive, irreparable rotator cuff tears using a GraftJacket allograft: technique and preliminary results. Arthroscopy. 2008 Apr;24(4):403-409.e1. doi: 10.1016/j.arthro.2007.07.033.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 18375271 (View on PubMed)

Badhe SP, Lawrence TM, Smith FD, Lunn PG. An assessment of porcine dermal xenograft as an augmentation graft in the treatment of extensive rotator cuff tears. J Shoulder Elbow Surg. 2008 Jan-Feb;17(1 Suppl):35S-39S. doi: 10.1016/j.jse.2007.08.005.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 18201655 (View on PubMed)

Soler JA, Gidwani S, Curtis MJ. Early complications from the use of porcine dermal collagen implants (Permacol) as bridging constructs in the repair of massive rotator cuff tears. A report of 4 cases. Acta Orthop Belg. 2007 Aug;73(4):432-6.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 17939470 (View on PubMed)

Brophy RH, Beauvais RL, Jones EC, Cordasco FA, Marx RG. Measurement of shoulder activity level. Clin Orthop Relat Res. 2005 Oct;439:101-8. doi: 10.1097/01.blo.0000173255.85016.1f.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 16205147 (View on PubMed)

Parnes N, Bartoszewski NR, Defranco MJ. Arthroscopic Repair of Full-Thickness Rotator Cuff Tears in Active Patients Younger Than 40 Years: 2- to 5-Year Clinical Outcomes. Orthopedics. 2018 Jan 1;41(1):e52-e57. doi: 10.3928/01477447-20171114-02. Epub 2017 Nov 21.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 29156071 (View on PubMed)

Chung SW, Kim JY, Kim MH, Kim SH, Oh JH. Arthroscopic repair of massive rotator cuff tears: outcome and analysis of factors associated with healing failure or poor postoperative function. Am J Sports Med. 2013 Jul;41(7):1674-83. doi: 10.1177/0363546513485719. Epub 2013 Apr 30.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 23631883 (View on PubMed)

Greenspoon JA, Petri M, Warth RJ, Millett PJ. Massive rotator cuff tears: pathomechanics, current treatment options, and clinical outcomes. J Shoulder Elbow Surg. 2015 Sep;24(9):1493-505. doi: 10.1016/j.jse.2015.04.005. Epub 2015 Jun 28.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 26129871 (View on PubMed)

Provided Documents

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Document Type: Study Protocol and Statistical Analysis Plan

View Document

Other Identifiers

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FLA 18-008

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id

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