The ARC Trial is a multicentre, randomised, placebo-surgery controlled clinical trial investigating the effectiveness of rotator cuff repair in people with chronic shoulder pain thought to be caused by degenerative full-thickness rotator cuff tears.
Surgical repair for rotator cuff tears is one of the most frequently performed shoulder procedures worldwide. Despite its widespread use, however, high-quality evidence demonstrating clear benefits had been missing. The ARC Trial was the first rigorous placebo-controlled study specifically designed to evaluate the true effect of rotator cuff repair itself for degenerative tears, addressing an important evidence gap in shoulder surgery.
The ARC Trial was initiated in Australia as a multicentre clinical study led by Professor Ian Harris from the University of New SouthWales, Sydney, with Nancy Cinnadaio as the central trial coordinator.
In February 2026, the FICEBO research group joined the study at HUS Helsinki University Hospital, becoming the first and currently the only research centre outside Australia participating in the trial.
Missing from the picture: radiologist Riikka Korpi and researchers Mikko Salmela, Robert Björkenheim and Eerik Hällfors.
ARC recruitment has already started and is advancing well, with many participants already randomised into the study.
Read more from the ARC project page.
Stay up to date
Follow FICEBO on social media to stay in the loop with our latest updates.
