Rotator cuff repair with ActivBraid collagen co-braid suture

Cleveland Clinic ActivBraid Rotator Cuff Repair (RCR) Study

The Cleveland Clinic · NCT06971497

We will test whether using the ActivBraid collagen co-braid suture during primary arthroscopic rotator cuff repair in adults improves tendon healing, shoulder motion, strength, and patient-reported outcomes over 6 months to 2 years.

Quick facts

Study typeObservational
Enrollment65 (estimated)
Ages18 Years to 75 Years
SexAll
SponsorThe Cleveland Clinic (other)
Drugs / interventionsradiation
Locations2 sites (Cleveland, Ohio and 1 other locations)
Trial IDNCT06971497 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this trial studies

This observational study will enroll up to 65 adults undergoing primary arthroscopic rotator cuff repair using the ActivBraid collagen co-braid suture and follow them at 6 months, 1 year, and 2 years. Outcomes include imaging-confirmed tendon healing as well as shoulder range of motion, strength testing, and patient-reported outcome measures. Eligible patients are 18–75 years with a reparable 1–5 cm full-thickness supraspinatus and/or infraspinatus tear, and key exclusions include prior ipsilateral shoulder surgery, frozen shoulder, advanced glenohumeral arthritis, and bovine material hypersensitivity. The study is sponsored by the Cleveland Clinic in collaboration with Zimmer Biomet and collects real-world postoperative data without experimental surgical procedures beyond standard repair using ActivBraid.

Who should consider this trial

Good fit: Adults aged 18–75 having a primary arthroscopic repair for a reparable 1–5 cm full-thickness tear of the supraspinatus and/or infraspinatus without prior ipsilateral shoulder surgery are ideal candidates.

Not a fit: Patients with prior ipsilateral shoulder surgery, isolated subscapularis tears, frozen shoulder, advanced glenohumeral arthritis, symptomatic cervical spine disease, or known hypersensitivity to bovine-derived materials are excluded and unlikely to benefit from this protocol.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this could lead to improved tendon healing and better shoulder function after rotator cuff repair.

How similar studies have performed: Similar approaches using collagen-coated sutures and biologic augmentation have some precedent but have shown mixed results, so the benefit is not yet definitively proven.

Eligibility criteria

Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria:

* 18-75 years
* acute or chronic, reparable, 1-5 cm full thickness tear of the supraspinatus and/or infraspinatus tendons

Exclusion Criteria:

* prior ipsilateral shoulder surgery
* outstanding worker's compensation claim
* symptomatic cervical spine disease
* a frozen shoulder
* advanced glenohumeral arthritis
* isolated subscapularis tear
* significant radiation exposure for other medical reasons.
* known is advance to be claustrophobic
* known history of hypersensitivity to bovine-derived materials.

Where this trial is running

Cleveland, Ohio and 1 other locations

Study contacts

How to participate

  1. Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
  2. Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
  3. Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.

View on ClinicalTrials.gov →

Conditions: Rotator Cuff Repair of the Shoulder, rotator cuff repair, shoulder, rotator cuff tear, collagen suture

Last reviewed 2026-05-15 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.