Introduction As rotator cuff repairs (RCRs) are among the most common procedures in upper extremity orthopedics, healing augmentation using pharmacologic enhancement of the repaired rotator cuff muscle is of particular interest. Objective The purpose of this study is to review the current understanding of Matrix Metalloproteinases (MMPs), Doxycycline, Testosterone, Estrogen, Growth hormone/ IGF-1, Vitamin D, and Vitamin C as a means to mitigate deleterious effects and propagate factors that support healing following RCR. Methods A review of English language articles in PubMed and Medline was conducted in December of 2020. All articles describing the current understanding of the aforementioned therapies were reviewed. Studies were excluded if they were non-English or reported incomplete results. Results Matrix metalloproteinases (MMP’s) are fundamental to the healing process after rotator cuff tears through a delicate balance of various proteases that can be modulated by doxycycline through inhibition. While testosterone has shown to induce replication and differentiation of the tendon stem-cells, estrogen agonists have been shown to decrease inflammation and muscle atrophy. Though growth hormone being associated with elevated collagen synthesis and decreased anoxic damage when present, clinical studies have shown inconclusive and adverse effects on rotator cuff healing. Patients with Vitamin D deficiency have shown to have increased fatty infiltration in rotator cuff muscle while Vitamin C functions as an antioxidant that increases collagen and fibroblast proliferation. Conclusion As manipulation of pharmacologic factors shows potential for enhancing healing following RCRs, future studies are needed to establish a viable augmentation strategy to improve patient outcomes
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.
customersupport@researchsolutions.com
10624 S. Eastern Ave., Ste. A-614
Henderson, NV 89052, USA
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
Copyright © 2025 scite LLC. All rights reserved.
Made with 💙 for researchers
Part of the Research Solutions Family.