Tuberoplasty Versus Balloon Spacer for Rotator Cuff Tears

This study is looking at two surgical procedures for massive, irreparable rotator cuff tears (a tear in the group of muscles and tendons that surround the shoulder joint). You might be eligible if you are 65 or older, have a massive tear involving specific shoulder muscles (supraspinatus and infraspinatus), experience pain, and have had previous shoulder surgery. The study aims to see if either "biologic tuberoplasty" (attaching a special tissue graft to the shoulder bone) or a "subacromial balloon spacer" (inserting a biodegradable balloon into the shoulder joint) can reduce bone-on-bone contact and pain. Researchers will measure changes in bone contact, shoulder movement, and your pain levels over 12 months. The current recruitment status is unclear.

Study design
This interventional study plans to enroll 40 participants. It compares two surgical procedures for rotator cuff tears.
What's involved
You would have measurements taken before surgery, then at 1 week, 6 weeks, 3 months, 6 months, and 12 months after surgery. These measurements include shoulder range of motion and pain assessment.
Compensation
Not stated in the trial record.
Follow-up
Participants will be followed for 12 months after their surgery to assess changes in bone contact, shoulder movement, and pain.

AI-generated from the public study record. Only the study team can confirm whether you're eligible — confirm details with them before making decisions.

NCT06735170

Tuberoplasty Versus Balloon Spacer

Recruiting
PHASE1Ages 65+InterventionalTreatment
University of Minnesota
~40 participants
Updated 2026-01-07 on ClinicalTrials.gov
What's tested:biologic tuberoplastysubacromial balloon spacer

At a glance

Recruiting sites
1 of 1 listed site is recruiting right now
RecruitingSuspended, closed, or not yet open
What they're measuring
change in bone-to-bone contact between tuberosity and acromion
Measured over presurgery, 6 months postop, 12 months postop
+3 more outcomes measured
Rotator Cuff Tears

NCT06735170

Where you'd take part

This study runs at 1 site. They're the same protocol — you choose where, and that choice sets who your contact draft is addressed to.

  • University of Minnesota

    Minneapolis, Minnesotastudy coordinator listed

    Recruiting

Sites open and close at different times, so the status above is per site — it can differ from the study's overall status.

  • Allison Rao · PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR · University of Minnesota

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Eligibility criteria

Inclusion

Massive irreparable rotator cuff tear involving the supraspinatus and infraspinatus.
No involvement of the subscapularis.
Centered humeral head on X-ray examination.
Primary complaint of pain.
History of prior surgery, including failed rotator cuff repair.

Exclusion

Involvement of the subscapularis.
Acromiohumeral distance less than 7 mm on upright anterior-posterior (AP) radiograph.
Rotator cuff deemed repairable at the time of surgery.
Patients younger than 65 years due to FDA clearance of the subacromial balloon spacer only for patients over 65
  • change in bone-to-bone contact between tuberosity and acromionpresurgery, 6 months postop, 12 months postop

    degree of change in bone-to-bone contact between tuberosity and acromion as assessed using biplanar fluoroscopy

  • shoulder range of motionpresurgery, 1 week, 6 weeks, 3 months, 6 months, and 12 months postoperatively

    quantitative measurement in degrees with a goniometer of shoulder motion in forward elevation, abduction, external rotation, and internal rotation

  • single assessment numerical evaluation (SANE) of the shoulderpresurgery, 1 week, 6 weeks, 3 months, 6 months, and 12 months postoperatively

    a validated tool providing a numerical score from 0-100 that assess shoulder function as subjectively reported by the subject. A higher score indicates superior shoulder function.

  • American shoulder and elbow surgeons (ASES) scorepresurgery, 1 week, 6 weeks, 3 months, 6 months, and 12 months postoperatively

    a validated survey with possible scores from 0-100 that assesses shoulder function as reported by the subject. A higher score indicates superior shoulder function.