Estradiol Supplementation and Rotator Cuff Repair (ESTRCR)

March 17, 2026 updated by: Peter Chalmers, University of Utah

Estradiol Supplementation and Rotator Cuff Repair: A Preliminary Randomized Trial

Rotator cuff tears in the shoulder are common causes of pain and disability, often fail to heal with surgery, and tears, worse outcomes after surgery, and failure of healing are associated with estradiol deficiency. In this study, post-menopausal women will be randomized to either estradiol patches or placebo patches after repair of the rotator cuff. The purpose of this study is to determine whether estradiol patches show promise in improving shoulder pain, strength, muscle volumes, and function when given with rotator cuff repair.

Study Overview

Status

Status

Indicates the current recruitment status or the expanded access status.
Not yet recruiting

Conditions

Conditions

The disease, disorder, syndrome, illness, or injury that is being studied. On ClinicalTrials.gov, conditions may also include other health-related issues, such as lifespan, quality of life, and health risks.

Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.

Detailed Description

Injuries to the rotator cuff are among the most common musculoskeletal complaints and are increasing in incidence. Multiple studies have demonstrated that rotator cuff repair (RCR) improves outcomes for rotator cuff tears. Over 500,000 RCRs are performed in the US annually. When both surgical and non-operative treatment are included, rotator cuff injuries cost the United States over $5 billion dollars annually. After RCR, tendon healing fails to occur in >20% of patients. Improving tendon healing is thus a critical barrier to success. The field has arrived at a consensus that improving tendon biology is the key to improving tendon healing. Our prior human and animal research demonstrates that estradiol deficiency contributes to rotator cuff injuries and poor outcomes after RCR and estradiol supplementation improves RCR healing and outcomes. With this study we propose to translate these promising and compelling findings into improved clinical care of patients with rotator cuff injuries. Estradiol deficiency can be treated with hormone therapy (HT), which is widely utilized, well-tolerated, inexpensive, and FDA approved. In this study, we will conduct a phase II study of the efficacy and feasibility of HT within the setting of RCR. We hypothesize that compliance and response rates will be high while adverse events will be infrequent and equally common with estradiol patches and placebo patches. We also hypothesize that outcomes and healing will be better in the HT group than the control group. To test these hypotheses, we will conduct a randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blinded clinical trial to measure recruitment and retention rates, compliance with treatment, response to treatment of serum hormone levels, estimated effect size for power calculations, and adverse events. Postoperatively, we will evaluate validated patient-reported outcomes and tendon healing and rotator cuff muscle volumes utilizing magnetic resonance imaging. If efficacy and tolerability are demonstrated, a future large, multi-center, randomized clinical trial will be warranted. We expect these data will support the use of estradiol as a promising approach to improved healing and outcomes, supporting a future, larger, well-powered, multi-centered randomized clinical trial with longer follow-up. Such a study could improve the treatment of people with rotator cuff injuries, thereby decreasing a source of significant disability. If our hypotheses are confirmed, it would shift the paradigm on the treatment of problems with tendons and their attachments to bone throughout the body.

Study Type

Study Type

Describes the nature of a clinical study. Study types include interventional studies (also called clinical trials), observational studies (including patient registries), and expanded access.
Interventional

Enrollment (Estimated)

Enrollment

The number of participants in a clinical study. The "anticipated" enrollment is the target number of participants that the researchers need for the study.
58

Phase

Phase

The stage of a clinical trial studying a drug or biological product, based on definitions developed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The phase is based on the study's objective, the number of participants, and other characteristics. There are five phases: Early Phase 1 (formerly listed as Phase 0), Phase 1, Phase 2, Phase 3, and Phase 4. Not Applicable is used to describe trials without FDA-defined phases, including trials of devices or behavioral interventions.
  • Phase 2

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Contact

Study Contact

The name and contact information for the person who can answer enrollment questions for a clinical study. Each location where the study is being conducted may also have a specific contact, who may be better able to answer those questions.

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

The key requirements that people who want to participate in a clinical study must meet or the characteristics they must have. Eligibility criteria consist of both inclusion criteria (which are required for a person to participate in the study) and exclusion criteria (which prevent a person from participating). Types of eligibility criteria include whether a study accepts healthy volunteers, has age or age group requirements, or is limited by sex.

Ages Eligible for Study

  • Adult
  • Older Adult

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Description

Inclusion Criteria

  1. A plan for a primary rotator cuff repair
  2. Female sex (assigned sex at birth)
  3. >1 cm tear width, full thickness supraspinatus/infraspinatus tear
  4. Post-menopausal, as defined by at least twelve months since last menses
  5. Age 50-80

Exclusion Criteria

  1. Active infection
  2. Baseline serum estradiol >20 pg/mL
  3. Infraspinatus or supraspinatus muscle atrophy of greater than or equal to Goutallier grade 3
  4. Pre-operative systemic estradiol supplementation
  5. Medically unfit for operative intervention
  6. Revision surgery
  7. Unwillingness to participate in the study, including post-operative imaging
  8. Inability to read or comprehend written instructions
  9. Prisoner
  10. Concomitant patch augmentation or tendon-transfer
  11. Breast cancer or a history of breast cancer or other estradiol-dependent neoplasia
  12. Liver disease as documented in the medical record
  13. Active venous thromboembolic disease, such as deep venous thrombosis, pulmonary embolism, a history of these conditions, or a known predisposition to these disorders (such as Protein C, protein S, or antithrombin deficiency)
  14. Active arterial thromboembolic disease, such as stroke, myocardiac infarction, a history of these conditions, or a known predisposition to these disorders
  15. Isolated subscapularis tears
  16. Known anaphylactic reaction or hypersensitivity to estradiol, adhesive, or transdermal patches

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Primary Purpose: Treatment
  • Allocation: Randomized
  • Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
  • Masking: Quadruple

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm

Participant Group / Arm

A group or subgroup of participants in a clinical trial that receives a specific intervention/treatment, or no intervention, according to the trial's protocol.
Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.
Experimental: Transdermal estradiol patches
All patients will receive patches with identical labeling from our pharmacy, to be applied twice weekly. In the study group, these will contain 0.025 mg/day of estradiol. In the control group, these will be placebo. These will be applied twice weekly for three months beginning at the time of surgery and extending for three months after surgery.
Drug: Transdermal estrogen
All patients will receive patches with identical labeling from our pharmacy, to be applied twice weekly. In the study group, these will contain 0.025 mg/day of estradiol. In the control group, these will be placebo. These will be applied twice weekly for three months beginning at the time of surgery and extending for three months after surgery.
Procedure: Rotator Cuff Repair Surgery
The operative protocol will be standardized in all patients. Both the operative protocol and post-operative rehabilitation protocol will be per our standard of care, without alteration. An arthroscopic approach will be used. In all cases a double-row rotator cuff repair using triple-loaded anchor(s) on the medial row will be used. Post-operatively all patients will be placed in a sling for six weeks. Active range of motion exercises will begin at six weeks post-operatively and strengthening will be delayed until 12 weeks post-operatively. In all phases of care our peri-operative and post-operative protocol for study patients will be similar to our current clinical practice to ensure generalizability.
Placebo Comparator: Placebo patches
All patients will receive patches with identical labeling from our pharmacy, to be applied twice weekly. In the study group, these will contain 0.025 mg/day of estradiol. In the control group, these will be placebo. These will be applied twice weekly for three months beginning at the time of surgery and extending for three months after surgery.
Procedure: Rotator Cuff Repair Surgery
The operative protocol will be standardized in all patients. Both the operative protocol and post-operative rehabilitation protocol will be per our standard of care, without alteration. An arthroscopic approach will be used. In all cases a double-row rotator cuff repair using triple-loaded anchor(s) on the medial row will be used. Post-operatively all patients will be placed in a sling for six weeks. Active range of motion exercises will begin at six weeks post-operatively and strengthening will be delayed until 12 weeks post-operatively. In all phases of care our peri-operative and post-operative protocol for study patients will be similar to our current clinical practice to ensure generalizability.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Primary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, the planned outcome measure that is the most important for evaluating the effect of an intervention/treatment. Most clinical studies have one primary outcome measure, but some have more than one.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons (ASES) Score
Time Frame: To be collected within 3 months pre-operatively and at 6 weeks (±2 weeks), 12 weeks (±2 weeks), and 6 months (±4 weeks) post-operatively.
The ASES score is a patient survey that creates a score on a 100 point scale incorporating questions regarding shoulder pain and shoulder function. This survey contains 11 questions and takes ~3 minutes to complete. The validity and reliability of this score has been previously validated.
To be collected within 3 months pre-operatively and at 6 weeks (±2 weeks), 12 weeks (±2 weeks), and 6 months (±4 weeks) post-operatively.

Secondary Outcome Measures

Secondary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, a planned outcome measure that is not as important as the primary outcome measure for evaluating the effect of an intervention but is still of interest. Most clinical studies have more than one secondary outcome measure.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Simple Shoulder Test (SST) Score
Time Frame: To be collected within 3 months pre-operatively and at 6 weeks (±2 weeks), 12 weeks (±2 weeks), and 6 months (±4 weeks) post-operatively.
The SST score is a patient survey that creates a score on a 12-point scale incorporating questions regarding shoulder function. This survey contains 12 questions and takes ~3 minutes to complete. The validity and reliability of this score has been previously validated.
To be collected within 3 months pre-operatively and at 6 weeks (±2 weeks), 12 weeks (±2 weeks), and 6 months (±4 weeks) post-operatively.
Visual Analogue Score (VAS) for pain
Time Frame: To be collected within 3 months pre-operatively and at 6 weeks (±2 weeks), 12 weeks (±2 weeks), and 6 months (±4 weeks) post-operatively.
The VAS pain score is a patient survey that creates a score on a 10 point scale incorporating a single question regarding shoulder pain. This survey takes <1 minute to complete.
To be collected within 3 months pre-operatively and at 6 weeks (±2 weeks), 12 weeks (±2 weeks), and 6 months (±4 weeks) post-operatively.
Strength Assessment
Time Frame: To be collected within 3 months pre-operatively and at 6 weeks (±2 weeks), 12 weeks (±2 weeks), and 6 months (±4 weeks) post-operatively.
Rotator cuff strength, as measured with a handheld digital dynamometer (Lafayette instruments, Lafayette, IN), will be measured. Abduction strength will be measured at 30 degrees of flexion, 30 degrees of abduction, neutral rotation, and full elbow extension. External rotation strength will be measured with the arm in adduction, neutral rotation, and 90 degrees of elbow flexion. These measures will be performed by research coordinators trained to perform these assessments. We have previously demonstrated these measurements to have excellent inter-observer reliability, with abduction strength having an intra-class correlation coefficient (ICC) of 0.993 and external rotation strength having an ICC of 0.986.
To be collected within 3 months pre-operatively and at 6 weeks (±2 weeks), 12 weeks (±2 weeks), and 6 months (±4 weeks) post-operatively.
Range of motion
Time Frame: To be collected within 3 months pre-operatively and at 6 weeks (±2 weeks), 12 weeks (±2 weeks), and 6 months (±4 weeks) post-operatively.
Range of motion will be recorded. Research personnel experienced with the use of video will measure active abduction, active forward elevation, active internal rotation in adduction, and active external rotation in adduction. This protocol has been previously used in many publications. These videos will be saved using subject numbers and then evaluated using a digital protractor by a third-party observer blinded to the subjects group. This method of range of motion measurement has been previously demonstrated to have excellent inter-observer reliability.
To be collected within 3 months pre-operatively and at 6 weeks (±2 weeks), 12 weeks (±2 weeks), and 6 months (±4 weeks) post-operatively.
Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)
Time Frame: Within 3 months pre-operatively and at 6 months (±4 weeks) post-operatively.
MRI scans will be assessed by observers blinded to the patient's allocation. On the pre-operative MRI, pre-operative tear width, pre-operative tear retraction, cuff muscle atrophy using the Goutallier10 classification will be measured. For each patient, the post-operative MRI will be classified using the Sugaya classification, which multiple authors have demonstrated to have excellent inter-observer reliability. Sugaya grades 1, 2, and 3 will be considered "healed" and Sugaya grades 4 and 4 will be considered "re-torn". In cases of re-tear, tear width and retraction will be measured. In addition, on both pre-operative and post-operative scans rotator cuff muscle volumes will be measured, for which we have previously demonstrated to have excellent inter-observer reliability and accuracy. All post-operative MRI scans will be 3.0 tesla non-arthrogram studies in which T2 imaging will be performed in the sagittal, coronal, and axial planes.
Within 3 months pre-operatively and at 6 months (±4 weeks) post-operatively.

Other Outcome Measures

Other Outcome Measures

For clinical trials, a planned measurement described in the protocol that is used to determine the effect of an intervention/treatment on participants. For observational studies, a measurement or observation that is used to describe patterns of diseases or traits, or associations with exposures, risk factors, or treatment. Types of outcome measures include primary outcome measure and secondary outcome measure.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Serum Hormone Measurement
Time Frame: To be collected within 3 months pre-operatively, at 6 weeks (±1 week) after starting medication, and at 12 weeks (±2 weeks) after starting medication.
Nonadherence could result in cross-over, biasing towards the null hypothesis. We will assess compliance with serum laboratory values. Blood will be drawn and the following serum estradiol values will be collected. These values will be interpreted by co-investigator Dr. Corrine Welt, a board-certified endocrinologist with extensive experience with reproductive urology. To preserve participant blinding, the results of hormonal testing will not be available through the patient electronic portal unless it is deemed necessary for patient care by Dr. Welt. In addition, to preserve their blinding, the treating surgeons and the clinical research coordinators performing the post-operative assessments will not have access to the laboratory values. Dr. Welt will not perform any other patient evaluations, and thus cannot influence the results.
To be collected within 3 months pre-operatively, at 6 weeks (±1 week) after starting medication, and at 12 weeks (±2 weeks) after starting medication.
Patch Count
Time Frame: 6 weeks (±2 weeks) post-operatively, 12 weeks (±2 week) post-operatively.
Subjects will be asked how many patches they have used to determine patient compliance. Deviations from protocol will be recorded.
6 weeks (±2 weeks) post-operatively, 12 weeks (±2 week) post-operatively.
Averse Event Assessment
Time Frame: To be collected at every patient visit, including 6 weeks (±2 weeks) after surgery, 12 weeks (±2 weeks) after surgery, and 6 months (±4 weeks) after surgery.
At each visit patients will be queried regarding adverse events. Patients will asked about the following specific adverse events side effects: dyspepsia/gastritis, hypertension, flu-like symptoms, back-pain, headache, anxiety, insomnia, depression, breast tenderness, vaginal bleeding, hot flashes, venous insufficiency, vertigo, edema, deep venous thrombosis, application site reactions, abdominal pain, weight gain, emotional lability, bleeding, infection, complications from anesthesia, the need for further surgery. In addition, any post-operative injections will be recorded.
To be collected at every patient visit, including 6 weeks (±2 weeks) after surgery, 12 weeks (±2 weeks) after surgery, and 6 months (±4 weeks) after surgery.

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

Sponsor

The organization or person who initiates the study and who has authority and control over the study.
University of Utah

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Estimated)

Study Start

The actual date on which the first participant was enrolled in a clinical study. The "anticipated" study start date is the date that the researchers think will be the study start date.
March 1, 2028

Primary Completion (Estimated)

Primary Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention to collect final data for the primary outcome measure. Whether the clinical study ended according to the protocol or was terminated does not affect this date. For clinical studies with more than one primary outcome measure with different completion dates, this term refers to the date on which data collection is completed for all the primary outcome measures. The "anticipated" primary completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the primary completion date for the study.
December 1, 2030

Study Completion (Estimated)

Study Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention/treatment to collect final data for the primary outcome measures, secondary outcome measures, and adverse events (that is, the last participant's last visit). The "anticipated" study completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the study completion date.
December 1, 2030

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

First Submitted

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submitted a study record to ClinicalTrials.gov. There is typically a delay of a few days between the first submitted date and the record's availability on ClinicalTrials.gov (the first posted date).
March 12, 2024

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submits a study record that is consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. The sponsor or investigator may need to revise and submit a study record one or more times before NLM's QC review criteria are met. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
March 12, 2024

First Posted (Actual)

First Posted

The date on which the study record was first available on ClinicalTrials.gov after National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review has concluded. There is typically a delay of a few days between the date the study sponsor or investigator submitted the study record and the first posted date.
March 19, 2024

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

Last Update Posted

The most recent date on which changes to a study record were made available on ClinicalTrials.gov. There may be a delay between when the changes were submitted to ClinicalTrials.gov by the study's sponsor or investigator (the last update submitted date) and the last update posted date.
March 19, 2026

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator submitted changes to a study record that are consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
March 17, 2026

Last Verified

Last Verified

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator confirmed the information about a clinical study on ClinicalTrials.gov as accurate and current. If a study with a recruitment status of recruiting; not yet recruiting; or active, not recruiting has not been confirmed within the past 2 years, the study's recruitment status is shown as unknown.
March 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

Other Study ID Numbers

Identifiers or ID numbers other than the NCT number that are assigned to a clinical study by the study's sponsor, funders, or others. These numbers may include unique identifiers from other trial registries and National Institutes of Health grant numbers.
  • 177012

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

NO

IPD Plan Description

The authors will plan to make their results available through multiple venues. Our plan includes the following:

  1. Presentation at national scientific meetings.
  2. ClinicalTrials.gov.
  3. Publication in peer-reviewed literature.
  4. Data sharing upon request. The PI will provide de-identified data to those who make requests for the purposes of meta-analysis.
  5. Visiting Professors.
  6. Website. The University of Utah regularly publishes important research results in web log ("blog") format, as does the PI on his practice website. Summaries of these results, along with links to the full results, written primarily for a general audience, will be posted as they become available.
  7. Repository. Once the main findings are accepted for publication, the final dataset will be shared at https://dataverse.org. This will be performed after removal of all protected health information.
  8. Progress on data sharing will be reported in our Research Progress Performance Reports annually.

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

Yes

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

product manufactured in and exported from the U.S.

No

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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