[Press]Prof. Rhee Sung-min's research project selected for MSIT Personal Basic Research Project

Rhee Sung-min, Professor of Orthopedic Surgery at Kyung Hee University Hospital | Kyung Hee Medical Center

A research project by Professor Rhee Sung-min of the Department of Orthopedic Surgery at Kyung Hee University Hospital, aimed at reducing re-tears after rotator cuff repair, has been selected for the Personal Basic Research Project by the Ministry of Science and ICT. The project is titled "The Effect of a Scaffold Made of Hyaluronic Acid Porous Polymer with Inserted Atelocollagen on Rotator Cuff Healing in a Rabbit Chronic Rotator Cuff Tear Model," and the research period spans two years.

Rotator cuff tears commonly occur in people over 50 due to degenerative changes or trauma. It is known that about 30% of the population over 60 suffers from rotator cuff disease. Recently, the prevalence has been increasing with the rise in sports activities such as golf. It causes chronic shoulder pain, which intensifies within a specific range when lifting or lowering the arm. Treatment involves surgery to remove inflammation of the synovium and bursa causing pain, and to reattach the torn rotator cuff tendon to the humerus where it was originally attached. However, even with successful rotator cuff repair, it is known that re-tears occur in 1 out of 3 patients if the tear size is large. Research and efforts are ongoing in clinical practice to reduce re-tears.

Professor Rhee Sung-min of Kyung Hee University Hospital stated, "I have been contemplating ways to fix the tendon to the bone more strongly as a method to reduce re-tears after rotator cuff repair." He expressed his ambition, adding, "Through this research, I aim to develop a scaffold composed of hyaluronic acid and atelocollagen (a type of collagen) to help in the treatment of patients with rotator cuff tears."