AccScience Publishing / OTE / Online First / DOI: 10.36922/OTE025190003
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REVIEW ARTICLE

Platelet-rich plasma and partial-thickness rotator cuff tears: A scoping review of therapeutic outcomes with attention to subgroup analysis

Isaiah X. Hughes1,2 ,  Sara Vaughan1,3 ,  Kelsey Martin1 ,  Krystal Hunter1,2 ,  Pietro Gentile1 ,  Cody Clinton1,2*
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1 Department of Orthopaedics, Faculty of Cooper Bone and Joint Institute, Cooper University Health Care, Camden, New Jersey, United States of America
2 Department of Orthopaedics, Faculty of Musculoskeletal Education, Cooper Medical School of Rowan University, Camden, New Jersey, United States of America
3 Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of NYU Langone Health, New York University Langone–Brooklyn, Brooklyn, New York, United States of America
OTE, 025190003 https://doi.org/10.36922/OTE025190003
Received: 6 May 2025 | Revised: 19 December 2025 | Accepted: 23 December 2025 | Published online: 28 January 2026
© 2026 by the Author(s). This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution -Noncommercial 4.0 International License (CC-by the license) ( https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ )
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Abstract

Current treatments for partial-thickness rotator cuff tears include operative repair and conservative management, such as platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injections. As clinicians increasingly seek alternatives to corticosteroid injections due to their potential adverse effects, PRP has emerged as a promising option for soft-tissue injuries. However, evidence regarding the efficacy of PRP for rotator cuff pathology remains inconsistent. This review aims to provide further insight into the effectiveness of PRP in alleviating pain and improving shoulder function in patients with traumatic partial-thickness rotator cuff tears. We searched PubMed, Cochrane Library, and EMBASE for studies involving adult participants with traumatic partial-thickness rotator cuff tears treated exclusively with PRP and reporting outcomes such as visual analog scale (VAS) for pain, American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons (ASES) score, or Constant–Murley score (CMS). Studies involving surgical interventions, systematic reviews, and non-human subjects were excluded. Ten prospective and case–control studies met the inclusion criteria and were included in the analysis. Across all measured outcomes and time points, the PRP group consistently demonstrated superior results compared to controls. VAS scores at 3, 6, and 12 months favored PRP treatment, with differences reaching statistical significance. Similar trends were observed for the ASES and CMS scores. This review highlights the superior pain relief and functional outcomes associated with PRP injections in both short- and long-term follow-ups, suggesting potential long-term benefits over traditional non-operative management for partial-thickness rotator cuff tears. While some previous studies have reported diminishing long-term efficacy of PRP, the evidence synthesized in this review indicates that PRP may provide long-term benefits over conventional non-operative treatments for partial-thickness rotator cuff tears.

Keywords
Platelet-rich plasma
Partial-thickness rotator cuff tear
Orthobiologics
Non-operative management
Scoping review
Funding
None.
Conflict of interest
The authors declare they have no competing interests.
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