Augustus D. Mazzocca, MD, chairman of the UConn department of orthopedic surgery and director of the Musculoskeletal Institute at UConn Health was featured in a UConn Today report discussing his work with stem cells to improve rotator cuff repairs.
Dr. Mazzocca works with engineers to develop technology for shoulder surgery. When patients need an additional biological factor to promote healing, the surgeons harvest stem cells, concentrate them and deliver them into the repair.
A research associate working with the team is developing a scaffold that can be sutured to the footprint on the bone for tendon reattachment. The scaffold is made of the patient's blood plasma and adult stem cells.