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NCT Number: NCT06002009

SupraScapular Cuff Study: Assessing the Effects of Size and Type of Rotator Cuff Tear on Suprascapular Nerve Function

The primary objective of the study is to determine in adult patients with a rotator cuff tear, what size and pattern of rotator cuff tear would result in damage to the suprascapular nerve.

The secondary objectives are

1. To determine if an injured suprascapular nerve can recover if the rotator cuff tear is surgically repaired. 2. To determine if there is a limit of retraction before the suprascapular nerve is irreversibly damaged. 3. To determine factors that are protective against SSN injury. 4. Can the patient data gathered be used to optimise operative procedures.

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Key information

Conditions

Orthopedic Disorder Musculoskeletal Diseases Rotator Cuff Injuries Rupture Shoulder Injuries Tendon Injuries Wounds and Injuries

Age range

18 year and older

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Observational

Primary location

University Hospitals of North Midlands NHS Trust

Stoke-on-Trent, United Kingdom

Location status: Recruiting

Location contact

Damian McClelland

PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Megan Young

CONTACT

[email protected]

01782675384

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: No

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

  • All patients age ≥18 years presenting to a UHNM shoulder clinic with a confirmed diagnosis of a rotator cuff tear (affecting one or both shoulders).

Exclusion criteria

  • Bony pathology (such as significant shoulder arthritis that would exclude isolated rotator cuff repair)
  • Grossly abnormal shoulder anatomy
  • Motor Neurone Disease
  • Cervical cord disease affecting the SSN nerve roots
  • Patients unable to undergo MRI scan
  • Previous surgery at the affected glenohumeral joint
  • Patients unable to tolerate NCS
  • Acute fracture affecting the glenohumeral joint
  • Recent glenohumeral joint dislocation (past 12 months)
  • Patients unable or unwilling to give full informed consent
  • Patients unable or unwilling to comply with the study procedures

Treatment and study plan

MRI

Radiation

MRI of shoulder

nerve conduction study

Other

Nerve conduction study

Primary outcomes

  1. Assess suprascapular nerve funaction

    Time frame: 36 months

    MRI scan to quantify size of rotator cuff tear, compared with Nerve Conduction Studies (NCS) to assess suprascapular nerve function.

Secondary outcomes

  1. Shoulder scores

    Time frame: 36 months

    Compare functional shoulder scores to the degree of nerve injury and muscle degeneration over a 24-month period post-injury. Scores to include active range of movement (ROM) measurements; and the collection of validated shoulder outcome scores (DASH, OSS, & Constant score).

  2. Nerve recovery

    Time frame: 24 months

    Functional assessment of nerve recovery at 24 months post-injury for surgically repaired rotator cuff tears.

  3. Machine learning

    Time frame: 24 months

    Use of machine learning to investigate data set for optimum parameters or predictors

  4. Nerve conduction studies

    Time frame: 12 months

    Repeat Nerve Conduction Study investigations at 12 months post injury for all surgically managed participants and non-surgical patients to assess suprascapular nerve function

Study contacts

Contact information is provided by the study sponsor or research team.

Megan Young

CONTACT

[email protected]

01782 675384

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

University Hospitals of North Midlands NHS Trust

Other

Registry information

Acronym: SSCuFF

Important dates

Study start
2025
Primary completion
2028
Study completion
2029
First posted
Aug 21, 2023
Registry last updated
Sep 3, 2025

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

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