Work

Preliminary evaluation of the clinical efficacy of salmon calcitonin nasal spray in patients with rotator cuff tears after arthroscopic repair: a multi-center retrospective cohort study

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: BACKGROUND: Rotator cuff tears (RCTs) are the most common shoulder disorder, which can be effectively treated by arthroscopic technique. However, postoperative pain and malfunction are common, and the re-tear rates are still high, particularly in patients with osteoporosis or acute bone loss. This study aimed to assess the efficacy of salmon calcitonin nasal spray (SCNS) in patients with RCTs after arthroscopic repair. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A multi-center retrospective cohort study was conducted consisting of 270 patients with RCTs, admitted to four hospitals in China. All patients underwent arthroscopic surgery and were divided into two groups: with or without use of SCNS postoperatively. Patients were evaluated with pain scores based on Visual Analog Scale (VAS), functional outcomes based on the Constant-Murley Shoulder score (CMS) and Simple Shoulder Test (SST) at various time intervals: (1) pre-operatively, (2) at 3, (3) at 6, and (4) at 24 months postoperatively. Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry was routinely adopted to detect the bone mineral density (BMD) at the proximal humeral metaphysis before surgery. RESULTS: Control group and study group comprised of 120 and 150 patients respectively, who showed no significant differences in demographic characteristics (P > 0.05). At 3 months, VAS, CMS, and SST scores in the study group were superior to those in the control group (P < 0.05). However, this trend did not persist at 6 and 24 months for shoulder function (CMS and SST). Tendon re-tear was seen in 12 (10.0%) patients in the control group and 2 (1.3%) in the study group, with a significant difference (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Use of SCNS significantly improved early postoperative shoulder function, reduced postoperative pain, and decreased re-tear rate after arthroscopic repair.

Source: International Journal of Surgery

DOI: 10.1097/js9.0000000000004820