Editorial Commentary: Rotator Cuff Tendon Healing May Be Enhanced With a Blanket

After rotator cuff repair, the regeneration of the anatomic enthesis may be beneficial. Although many cell and growth factor studies have been performed, none have shown a consistent regeneration of this structure. The use of bone marrow vents in the greater tuberosity has been associated with improved healing. The resultant clot has been dubbed a “crimson duvet” or blanket. The use of this readily available—and inexpensive—modality should be maximized in patients undergoing rotator cuff repair. In the end, a goal could be to enhance tendon-to-bone healing via a scaffold, cells, and growth factors. Pending inevitable reliable advances in biological augmentation, mesenchymal stem cells and growth factors from the greater tuberosity are just a marrow-stimulating pick away.