Rotator cuff tears in the shoulder are common causes of pain and disability, often fail to heal with surgery, and tears, worse outcomes after surgery, and failure of healing are associated with estradiol deficiency. In this study, post-menopausal women will be randomized to either estradiol patches or placebo patches after repair of the rotator cuff. The purpose of this study is to determine whether estradiol patches show promise in improving shoulder pain, strength, muscle volumes, and function when given with rotator cuff repair.
A plan for a primary rotator cuff repair
Female sex (assigned sex at birth)
>1 cm tear width, full thickness supraspinatus/infraspinatus tear
Post-menopausal, as defined by at least twelve months since last menses
Active infection
Baseline serum estradiol >20 pg/mL
Infraspinatus or supraspinatus muscle atrophy of greater than or equal to Goutallier grade 3
Pre-operative systemic estradiol supplementation