Platelet Rich Plasma vs. Corticosteroid Injection in the Treatment of Partial Rotator Cuff Tears

Subjects in this group will receive 2 injections with PRP. Subjects will have will have 15cc of blood drawn with the Arthrex ACP syringe. The blood will be placed into the Arthrex PRP centrifuge and spun at 1500 rpms for 5 minutes. The platelets will be drawn off to create the PRP for injection. A posterior glenohumeral injection under ultrasound guidance will be performed to inject the PRP solution using a 22g needle. A dry sterile dressing will be placed on the injection site. This injection will Take place at time zero and then two weeks later it will be repeated.

Subjects in this group will receive one injection with corticosteroids and then one injection with local anesthetic two weeks later. For the first injection patients will have 15ml of blood drawn. This blood will then be discarded in a biohazard container. A 6ml solution of 4ml 0.25% Bupivacaine, 1ml 40mg Kenalog, and 1ml 4mg Dexamethasone will be prepared. A posterior glenohumeral injection under ultrasound guidance will be performed to inject the steroid solution using a 22g needle. A dry sterile dressing will be placed at the injection site. For the second injection two weeks later patients will have 15 ml of blood drawn. This blood will then be discarded in a biohazard container. Using the same technique as in Visit 2, the investigator will inject a 6 ml solution of 2 ml sterile normal saline with 4 ml 0.25% Bupivacaine to the shoulder using ultrasound. A dry sterile dressing will be placed at the injection site.