Regenerative medicine in shoulder injuries: Stem cell augmentation and multi-tissue rotator cuff repair
Muhaimin Nafie
Abstract
Shoulder injuries, such as rotator cuff tears (RCTs), SLAP lesions, tendinopathy, and dislocations, are prevalent among athletes and often result in prolonged recovery, decreased range of motion, and reduced career longevity. The evolving field of regenerative medicine, stem cell augmentation, and multi-tissue regeneration provides a promising pathway for improved recovery. Previous research has explored links between bone-tendon-muscle unit healing, retear rates, and recent innovations such as mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), growth factors (GFs), platelet-rich plasma (PRP), and tissue-engineered scaffolds (TES). This paper presents a critical review of literature published from 2019 to 2025, assessing measurable outcomes including tendon healing, structural integrity, biomechanical performance, and retear rates. A total of 37 eligible studies were analysed after applying inclusion criteria that prioritised methodological transparency and clinical relevance. Findings suggest that regenerative augmentation can significantly improve repair outcomes, particularly in severe cases. In cases of severe or chronic injuries, combining traditional surgical techniques with regenerative medicine approaches may improve patient outcomes by enhancing tendon healing and reducing retear rates. However, variability in protocols and underpowered clinical trials limit broad clinical adoption. This review highlights the emerging role of MSCs, PRP, and TES in sports medicine and discusses current limitations and future directions for translational integration.
Keywords
rotator cuff repair, regenerative medicine, mesenchymal stem cells, platelet-rich plasma, tissue-engineered scaffolds, sports injuries
Author information & Contribution
Muhaimin Nafie. Currently a high school senior at St. Christopher’s School in Bahrain. Email: nafiemuhaimin@gmail.com
Disclosure statement
No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).
Funding
This work was not supported by any funding.
Institutional Review Board Statement
Not Applicable.
Data and Materials Availability
AI Declaration
AI tools were not used in writing this paper.
Notes
Acknowledgement
I am grateful to Omar Singleton and Dr. Sydni Williams for their advice throughout this project. I also extend my sincere gratitude to my St. Christopher's School of Bahrain family: Ms. Anusha Sundaram and Mr. Ross Chichester for their mentorship, guidance, and friendship; Mr. Matthew Gillard, whose experiences with shoulder injury inspired me to explore this area more deeply in my own research; Dr. Christopher Edwards and Mr. Kaci Goucem for their scientific and technical insights; as well as Noor Halim for her support. My appreciation also goes to Dr. Nozomu Takata for sharing his expertise in stem cell research, regenerative medicine, organoid development, organ mimetics, and clinical applications. Additionally, I would like to acknowledge the researchers and clinicians in regenerative medicine whose pioneering work continues to advance orthopaedic treatments and inspire this field. Finally, I extend my heartfelt thanks to my parents, Hisham Nafie and Manal Akasha, for their encouragement and support, without which this endeavour would not have been possible.
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Cite this article:
Muhaimin Nafie (2025). Regenerative medicine in shoulder injuries: Stem cell augmentation and multi-tissue rotator cuff repair. Journal of Allied Health Sciences & Medical Research, 1(3), 1-27. https://doi.org/10.53378/jahsmr.353255
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This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY 4.0) International License.
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