Shoulder InjuriesNCT05344898
Subscap Reverse Shoulder Arthroplasty
A study testing Subscap Tenotomy and Subscap Repair in people with Shoulder Injuries and Rotator Cuff Injuries, run by University of Maryland, Baltimore at 1 site in United States.
Trial summary
The subscapularis is part of the rotator cuff and is release as part of a reverse shoulder replacement. The decision to repair this tendon is controversial. This research is being done to help determine if rotator cuff repair improves or hinders shoulder replacement. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 18 to 95 yearsHealthy volunteers can take part
- Conditions the study is for
- Shoulder Injuries, Rotator Cuff Injuries
- What is being tested?
- Subscap Tenotomy and Subscap Repair
- Type of treatment
- Surgery or procedure
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 118 participants
- Where
- 1 siteUnited States
- Study dates
- 15 Nov 2022to 15 May 2027
- Phase
- Interventional
- Are there results?
- Not yet: the study is under way
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages 18 to 95 years
- All sexes
- Healthy volunteers accepted
- Adult, Older adult
Who may be able to join
- 18 to 95 years old
- Undergoing reverse shoulder arthroplasty for any indication including revision surgery
Who cannot join
- Irreparable Subscapularis Tendon
- Reparability of Subscapularis will be determined based on MRI or CT scan obtained preoperatively and confirmed intraoperatively. Tendons must be intact with less than Grade I or II Fatty Infiltration as determined by the Goutallier classification.
- Any history of proximal humerus fracture
- Any revision with proximal humerus bone loss
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country. Contact the study team or a site near you to ask about taking part.
United States1 site, 1 recruiting
- Recruiting
University of Maryland School of Medicine
Baltimore, Maryland, 21201
Mohit N Gilotra, M.D./M.S., 3015024102, MGilotra@som.umaryland.edu
Kevin K Wendeu-Foyet, B.S, 301-978-1431, kevinwendeufoyet@gmail.com
About this study
Official title: Subscapularis Repair in Reverse Shoulder Arthroplasty: A Multi-Center Randomized Single Blinded Superiority Study
The subscapularis is part of the rotator cuff and is release as part of a reverse shoulder replacement. The decision to repair this tendon is controversial. This research is being done to help determine if rotator cuff repair improves or hinders shoulder replacement. A worrisome but rare complication after shoulder replacement is dislocation. Rotator cuff repair may help reduce this risk. The repair may hinder some of the range of motion afterwards or could help with internal rotation strength. There is a chance that the repair doesn't matter at all. The goal of this study is to delineate outcomes after reverse shoulder arthroplasty with the respect to management of the subscapularis tendon. Further information about rotator cuff repair after reverse shoulder replacement can help define complications, potentially decrease OR time, and improve functional outcomes. A total of 148 patients will be enrolled and the duration of the study will be 5 years. All patients will be required to follow-up at 2¬-week, 6-week, 3-month, 6-month, 1-year, and 2-year post-operative marks. Any time information is collected for a study there is a small risk of breach of confidentiality. There are no monetary costs or payments associated with this study. You may or may not benefit by taking part in this study. There is no guarantee that you will receive direct benefit from your participation in this study. To be clear, participation in this study is completely voluntary.
Read the detailed description
You're going to undergo a procedure called a reverse shoulder replacement and I'm sure Dr. Gilotra already went over the procedure with you but I will again briefly. Before the hardware is put in, there is a tendon in your shoulder that has to be "released". It's released because the doctor has to move it out of the way to get to your shoulder joint. Now when the hardware has been implanted and the surgery is complete, the doctor now has two options. He can decide to repair this tendon or not. The thing is due to the hardware that is implanted, your shoulder doesn't really need this tendon anymore to help it move. So, there are some doctors in the country who choose to repair the tendon and there are some doctors who choose to just let it be. Patients have done great with either or.
We are performing this nationwide study to see if one option (between repairing this tendon or leaving it) is slightly better than the other. There is a chance that repairing the tendon can decrease the risk of dislocations in the future and also help you move your arm better. There is a chance that this repair doesn't matter at all. If we figure out whether to repair or not to repair this tendon, we will be able to better define complications, potentially decrease surgery time, and improve how well patients perform daily activities.
We randomize you to the repair on don't repair group, almost like flipping a coin. With me, you'll be answering simple questions that will track your functionality over time.
- Conditions
- Shoulder Injuries, Rotator Cuff Injuries
- Being tested
- Subscap Tenotomy, Subscap Repair
- Medical subject headings
- Shoulder Injuries, Rotator Cuff Injuries
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
Subscap TenotomyProcedure or surgery
Group will not have their subscapularis tendon repaired following a reverse shoulder replacement.
Subscap RepairProcedure or surgery
Group will have their subscapularis tendon repaired following a reverse shoulder replacement.
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Subscap Tenotomy | Experimental | The subscapularis tendon is not repaired. Receives: Procedure: Subscap Tenotomy |
| Subscap Repair | Experimental | The subscapularis tendon is repaired. Receives: Procedure: Subscap Repair |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Change in Internal Rotation
Internal rotation behind the back
Measured: Pre-op and post-op Months 3,6,12,24
Change in BOSS Scores
Change in Baltimore Orthopaedic Subscapularis Score (BOSS) over 2 years. The score asks enrolled patients a series of questions. The answer choices are the following: No difficulty, mild difficulty, severe difficulty, unable to perform.
Measured: Pre-op and post-op Months 3,6,12,24
Secondary outcomes (1)
Change in ASES score
Change in American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeon (ASES) score over 2 years postoperatively compared to preoperative. The score ranges from 0 to 10 with 0 indicating no pain and 10 indicating worst pain possible.
Measured: Pre-op and post-op Months 3,6,12,24
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted25 Apr 2022
- Study start15 Nov 2022
- Primary completion15 May 2027 (estimated)
- Study completion15 May 2027 (estimated)
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Publications (9)Papers the sponsor has linked to this study.
- Other trials for Shoulder InjuriesStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Interventional
- Phase
- Phase N/A
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Enrolment
- 118 participants (estimated)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- University of Maryland, Baltimore
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Principal investigator, Mohit N. Gilotra, University of Maryland, Baltimore
- Investigators
- Mohit Gilotra, MD, Principal investigator, University of Maryland, Baltimore
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT05344898
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- HP-00100825
- Status last verified
- Jul 2026
- First submitted
- 6 Apr 2022
- Last updated
- 10 Jul 2026
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- Yes
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- No
Publications
Otto RJ, Clark RE, Frankle MA. Reverse shoulder arthroplasty in patients younger than 55 years: 2- to 12-year follow-up. J Shoulder Elbow Surg. 2017 May;26(5):792-797. doi: 10.1016/j.jse.2016.09.051. Epub 2016 Dec 26.
PubMed 28034540Friedman RJ, Flurin PH, Wright TW, Zuckerman JD, Roche CP. Comparison of reverse total shoulder arthroplasty outcomes with and without subscapularis repair. J Shoulder Elbow Surg. 2017 Apr;26(4):662-668. doi: 10.1016/j.jse.2016.09.027. Epub 2016 Oct 27.
PubMed 28277259Villacis D, Sivasundaram L, Pannell WC, Heckmann N, Omid R, Hatch GF 3rd. Complication rate and implant survival for reverse shoulder arthroplasty versus total shoulder arthroplasty: results during the initial 2 years. J Shoulder Elbow Surg. 2016 Jun;25(6):927-35. doi: 10.1016/j.jse.2015.10.012. Epub 2016 Jan 18.
PubMed 26796602Vourazeris JD, Wright TW, Struk AM, King JJ, Farmer KW. Primary reverse total shoulder arthroplasty outcomes in patients with subscapularis repair versus tenotomy. J Shoulder Elbow Surg. 2017 Mar;26(3):450-457. doi: 10.1016/j.jse.2016.09.017. Epub 2016 Oct 14.
PubMed 27751722Kohan EM, Chalmers PN, Salazar D, Keener JD, Yamaguchi K, Chamberlain AM. Dislocation following reverse total shoulder arthroplasty. J Shoulder Elbow Surg. 2017 Jul;26(7):1238-1245. doi: 10.1016/j.jse.2016.12.073. Epub 2017 Feb 3.
PubMed 28162886Pastor MF, Kraemer M, Wellmann M, Hurschler C, Smith T. Anterior stability of the reverse shoulder arthroplasty depending on implant configuration and rotator cuff condition. Arch Orthop Trauma Surg. 2016 Nov;136(11):1513-1519. doi: 10.1007/s00402-016-2560-3. Epub 2016 Aug 26.
PubMed 27566617Padegimas EM, Zmistowski BM, Restrepo C, Abboud JA, Lazarus MD, Ramsey ML, Williams GR, Namdari S. Instability After Reverse Total Shoulder Arthroplasty: Which Patients Dislocate? Am J Orthop (Belle Mead NJ). 2016 Nov/Dec;45(7):E444-E450.
PubMed 28005111Farrington CP, Manning G. Test statistics and sample size formulae for comparative binomial trials with null hypothesis of non-zero risk difference or non-unity relative risk. Stat Med. 1990 Dec;9(12):1447-54. doi: 10.1002/sim.4780091208.
PubMed 2281232Piaggio G, Elbourne DR, Pocock SJ, Evans SJ, Altman DG; CONSORT Group. Reporting of noninferiority and equivalence randomized trials: extension of the CONSORT 2010 statement. JAMA. 2012 Dec 26;308(24):2594-604. doi: 10.1001/jama.2012.87802.
PubMed 23268518
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 10 Jul 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Subscapularis Repair in Reverse Shoulder Arthroplasty: A Multi-Center Randomized Single Blinded Superiority Study
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT05344898
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- HP-00100825
- Conditions
- Shoulder Injuries, Rotator Cuff Injuries
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Recruiting
- Enrolment
- 118 participants (estimated)
- Lead sponsor
- University of Maryland, BaltimoreUniversity, hospital or other
- Study start
- 15 Nov 2022 (actual)
- Primary completion
- 15 May 2027 (estimated)
- Study completion
- 15 May 2027 (estimated)
- First posted
- 25 Apr 2022 (actual)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
The subscapularis is part of the rotator cuff and is release as part of a reverse shoulder replacement. The decision to repair this tendon is controversial. This research is being done to help determine if rotator cuff repair improves or hinders shoulder replacement. A worrisome but rare complication after shoulder replacement is dislocation. Rotator cuff repair may help reduce this risk. The repair may hinder some of the range of motion afterwards or could help with internal rotation strength. There is a chance that the repair doesn't matter at all. The goal of this study is to delineate outcomes after reverse shoulder arthroplasty with the respect to management of the subscapularis tendon. Further information about rotator cuff repair after reverse shoulder replacement can help define complications, potentially decrease OR time, and improve functional outcomes. A total of 148 patients will be enrolled and the duration of the study will be 5 years. All patients will be required to follow-up at 2¬-week, 6-week, 3-month, 6-month, 1-year, and 2-year post-operative marks. Any time information is collected for a study there is a small risk of breach of confidentiality. There are no monetary costs or payments associated with this study. You may or may not benefit by taking part in this study. There is no guarantee that you will receive direct benefit from your participation in this study. To be clear, participation in this study is completely voluntary.
Detailed description
You're going to undergo a procedure called a reverse shoulder replacement and I'm sure Dr. Gilotra already went over the procedure with you but I will again briefly. Before the hardware is put in, there is a tendon in your shoulder that has to be "released". It's released because the doctor has to move it out of the way to get to your shoulder joint. Now when the hardware has been implanted and the surgery is complete, the doctor now has two options. He can decide to repair this tendon or not. The thing is due to the hardware that is implanted, your shoulder doesn't really need this tendon anymore to help it move. So, there are some doctors in the country who choose to repair the tendon and there are some doctors who choose to just let it be. Patients have done great with either or.
We are performing this nationwide study to see if one option (between repairing this tendon or leaving it) is slightly better than the other. There is a chance that repairing the tendon can decrease the risk of dislocations in the future and also help you move your arm better. There is a chance that this repair doesn't matter at all. If we figure out whether to repair or not to repair this tendon, we will be able to better define complications, potentially decrease surgery time, and improve how well patients perform daily activities.
We randomize you to the repair on don't repair group, almost like flipping a coin. With me, you'll be answering simple questions that will track your functionality over time.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Number of arms
- 2
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Subscap Tenotomy | Experimental | Procedure: Subscap TenotomyThe subscapularis tendon is not repaired. |
| Subscap Repair | Experimental | Procedure: Subscap RepairThe subscapularis tendon is repaired. |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 18 to 95 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Accepted
- Age groups
- Adult, Older adult
Key inclusion criteria (2 listed)
- 18 to 95 years old
- Undergoing reverse shoulder arthroplasty for any indication including revision surgery
Key exclusion criteria (4 listed)
- Irreparable Subscapularis Tendon
- Any history of proximal humerus fracture
- Any revision with proximal humerus bone loss
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| Subscap TenotomyGroup will not have their subscapularis tendon repaired following a reverse shoulder replacement. | Procedure or surgery | Subscap Tenotomy |
| Subscap RepairGroup will have their subscapularis tendon repaired following a reverse shoulder replacement. | Procedure or surgery | Subscap Repair |
Primary outcome
Change in Internal Rotation
Time frame: Pre-op and post-op Months 3,6,12,24
Internal rotation behind the back
Change in BOSS Scores
Time frame: Pre-op and post-op Months 3,6,12,24
Change in Baltimore Orthopaedic Subscapularis Score (BOSS) over 2 years. The score asks enrolled patients a series of questions. The answer choices are the following: No difficulty, mild difficulty, severe difficulty, unable to perform.
1 secondary outcome
Change in ASES score
Time frame: Pre-op and post-op Months 3,6,12,24
Results and safety
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 10 Jul 2026.
- Background: PubMed 28034540Otto RJ, Clark RE, Frankle MA. Reverse shoulder arthroplasty in patients younger than 55 years: 2- to 12-year follow-up. J Shoulder Elbow Surg. 2017 May;26(5):792-797. doi: 10.1016/j.jse.2016.09.051. Epub 2016 Dec 26.
- Background: PubMed 28277259Friedman RJ, Flurin PH, Wright TW, Zuckerman JD, Roche CP. Comparison of reverse total shoulder arthroplasty outcomes with and without subscapularis repair. J Shoulder Elbow Surg. 2017 Apr;26(4):662-668. doi: 10.1016/j.jse.2016.09.027. Epub 2016 Oct 27.
- Background: PubMed 26796602Villacis D, Sivasundaram L, Pannell WC, Heckmann N, Omid R, Hatch GF 3rd. Complication rate and implant survival for reverse shoulder arthroplasty versus total shoulder arthroplasty: results during the initial 2 years. J Shoulder Elbow Surg. 2016 Jun;25(6):927-35. doi: 10.1016/j.jse.2015.10.012. Epub 2016 Jan 18.
- Background: PubMed 27751722Vourazeris JD, Wright TW, Struk AM, King JJ, Farmer KW. Primary reverse total shoulder arthroplasty outcomes in patients with subscapularis repair versus tenotomy. J Shoulder Elbow Surg. 2017 Mar;26(3):450-457. doi: 10.1016/j.jse.2016.09.017. Epub 2016 Oct 14.
- Background: PubMed 28162886Kohan EM, Chalmers PN, Salazar D, Keener JD, Yamaguchi K, Chamberlain AM. Dislocation following reverse total shoulder arthroplasty. J Shoulder Elbow Surg. 2017 Jul;26(7):1238-1245. doi: 10.1016/j.jse.2016.12.073. Epub 2017 Feb 3.
- Background: PubMed 27566617Pastor MF, Kraemer M, Wellmann M, Hurschler C, Smith T. Anterior stability of the reverse shoulder arthroplasty depending on implant configuration and rotator cuff condition. Arch Orthop Trauma Surg. 2016 Nov;136(11):1513-1519. doi: 10.1007/s00402-016-2560-3. Epub 2016 Aug 26.
- Background: PubMed 28005111Padegimas EM, Zmistowski BM, Restrepo C, Abboud JA, Lazarus MD, Ramsey ML, Williams GR, Namdari S. Instability After Reverse Total Shoulder Arthroplasty: Which Patients Dislocate? Am J Orthop (Belle Mead NJ). 2016 Nov/Dec;45(7):E444-E450.
- Background: PubMed 2281232Farrington CP, Manning G. Test statistics and sample size formulae for comparative binomial trials with null hypothesis of non-zero risk difference or non-unity relative risk. Stat Med. 1990 Dec;9(12):1447-54. doi: 10.1002/sim.4780091208.
- Background: PubMed 23268518Piaggio G, Elbourne DR, Pocock SJ, Evans SJ, Altman DG; CONSORT Group. Reporting of noninferiority and equivalence randomized trials: extension of the CONSORT 2010 statement. JAMA. 2012 Dec 26;308(24):2594-604. doi: 10.1001/jama.2012.87802.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: No
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Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part.
Mohit Gilotra, MD principal investigator
University of Maryland, Baltimore
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing Subscap Tenotomy and Subscap Repair in people with Shoulder Injuries and Rotator Cuff Injuries, run by University of Maryland, Baltimore at 1 site in United States.
The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.
Who may be eligible to take part?
The sponsor lists 2 inclusion and 4 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.
Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?
The record says: looking for participants now, as of the sponsor's last update on 10 Jul 2026. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
Where is the study taking place?
The record lists 1 site in United States. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.
What are the possible benefits and risks?
They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.
Are results available for this study?
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
Contact Mohit Gilotra, MD (3015024102, mgilotra@som.umaryland.edu), or a site near the patient. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Change in Internal Rotation (time frame: Pre-op and post-op Months 3,6,12,24). The study lists 2 primary outcomes in all. It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
On the ClinicalTrials.gov record for NCT05344898, which also lists 9 linked publications.
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?
No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.
How often is this information updated?
AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 10 Jul 2026; AzTrials last refreshed its copy on 28 Oct 2026.