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Rotator cuff tear degeneration and the role of fibro‐adipogenic progenitors
Author(s) -
Agha Obiajulu,
Diaz Agustin,
Davies Michael,
Kim Hubert T.,
Liu Xuhui,
Feeley Brian T.
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
annals of the new york academy of sciences
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.712
H-Index - 248
eISSN - 1749-6632
pISSN - 0077-8923
DOI - 10.1111/nyas.14437
Subject(s) - rotator cuff , medicine , degeneration (medical) , tears , rotator cuff injury , progenitor cell , pathology , surgery , stem cell , biology , microbiology and biotechnology
The high prevalence of rotator cuff tears poses challenges to individual patients and the healthcare system at large. This orthopedic injury is complicated further by high rates of retear after surgical repair. Outcomes following repair are highly dependent upon the quality of the injured rotator cuff muscles, and it is, therefore, crucial that the pathophysiology of rotator cuff degeneration continues to be explored. Fibro‐adipogenic progenitors, a major population of resident muscle stem cells, have emerged as the main source of intramuscular fibrosis and fatty infiltration, both of which are key features of rotator cuff muscle degeneration. Improvements to rotator cuff repair outcomes will likely require addressing the muscle pathology produced by these cells. The aim of this review is to summarize the current rotator cuff degeneration assessment tools, the effects of poor muscle quality on patient outcomes, the role of fibro‐adipogenic progenitors in mediating muscle pathology, and how these cells could be leveraged for potential therapeutics to augment current rotator cuff surgical and rehabilitative strategies.