Background:

The severity and progression of rotator cuff tears have forced research on new treatment pathways such as metalloprotease inhibition, which has shown a reduction in healing time and improvement in the structure of collagen fibers.

Objective:

To evaluate the use of doxycycline as a healing enhancer in rotator cuff tears after surgical treatment.

Material and methods:

20 patients were included; they were divided into two groups, 10 with the use of doxycycline and 10 without it after arthroscopic repair with one-year follow-up. Doxycycline was given orally, 100 mg once a day for one month. Every subject in the test was diagnosed with rotator cuff tear confirmed by MRI with Patte and Goutallier scores below 2. We used the arthroscopic double row technique. Post-op follow-up was 12 months with clinical scales (UCLA, Constant and forward flexion strength).

Results:

Both groups reported almost complete healing of rotator cuff tears after surgical treatment during the twelve months of follow-up; forward flexion strength was the only score that reported improvement in the doxycycline group during every check-up.

Discussion:

Doxycycline use after arthroscopic cuff tear repair could improve the clinical outcome, but we do not know how yet; however larger sample and randomized trials should be developed.