Taking part in

SPARC is a research study for older adults with a massive irreparable rotator cuff tear who are being treated in the NHS.

A logo with the word SPARC in large blue and green letters, with a stylized outline of a human neck and spine in yellow and green integrated into the text. Below, the text reads "Surgical Preservation Approaches for irreparable Rotator Cuff tears in older patients."

Who may be invited?

You may be invited if:

  • you are aged 65 or over

  • you have ongoing shoulder pain and loss of function

  • non-surgical treatment has not helped enough

  • your clinical team thinks arthroscopic shoulder surgery may be appropriate

Not everyone assessed for surgery will enter the study. During surgery, the surgeon will confirm whether the tear is fully repairable or not.

Do I have to take part?

No. Taking part is entirely voluntary.

Your care will not be affected if you decide not to take part, or if you later choose to withdraw.

Why take part?

By taking part, you may help researchers and the NHS understand:

  • which outcomes matter most to patients

  • how best to design a larger future trial

  • how shoulder care for older adults can become more consistent and evidence-based

A medical consultation setup where a person holds a tablet displaying an anatomical diagram of the shoulder, with a researcher study information booklet on the table, and a doctor or professional in the background gesturing toward a presentation on a laptop.

What happens if I join?

If you agree to take part:

A diverse group of medical professionals, including nurses and doctors, having a discussion with an elderly female patient in a hospital room. The woman is seated and wearing a hospital gown, while the medical team listens attentively. There are medical documents on a table nearby.

Before surgery

  • the team will talk you through the study

  • you will receive written information

  • you will be asked to give consent

  • you will complete questionnaires about your shoulder, pain, and quality of life

A team of surgeons in blue scrubs and masks perform surgery in an operating room. A monitor behind them displays an image of a knee joint.

During surgery

  • your surgeon will assess the tear arthroscopically

  • if the tear can be fully repaired, you will not continue in the study

  • if the tear is confirmed to be irreparable, the surgeon will attempt a partial repair

  • if partial repair is not possible, the procedure will be completed as debridement only

A group of people, including a woman with a shoulder brace and a woman with a headscarf, sitting in a waiting room with a healthcare professional discussing a diagram of a shoulder joint.

After surgery

We will collect information before surgery and again at around 3 months and 6 months after surgery. This includes:

  • shoulder questionnaires

  • pain scores

  • movement and function

  • X-rays

  • health-related quality of life information

Some participants at Cambridge may also be invited to join a tissue sample sub-study, where very small tendon or muscle samples are collected during surgery for laboratory research.

Interested in

Interested in learning more about SPARC? Fill out the form below, and a member of our team will respond as soon as possible.

Logo with the word 'SPARC' in large letters, colored blue, yellow, and green, with a stylized image of a hand and a pulley in the center. Below, text reads 'Surgical Preservation Approaches for irreparable Rotator Cuff tears in older patients.'