Platelet-rich plasma in orthopaedic surgery a critical analysis review

Platelet-rich plasma has shown great promise and potential to stimulate biologic activity in difficult-to-heal musculoskeletal tissue. However, the optimal formulation, method of administration, and dosing for different tissues have yet to be determined.» Within a given platelet-rich plasma preparation technique, there is a high degree of inter-subject and intra-subject variability in the composition of platelet-rich plasma produced. This likely contributes to the inconsistent results reported in the current platelet-rich plasma literature.» Current evidence best supports the use of platelet-rich plasma as a treatment for osteoarthritis of the knee. Evidence on the use of platelet-rich plasma as a treatment or adjunct for rotator cuff repair, lateral epicondylitis, hamstring injuries, anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction, patellar tendinopathy, Achilles tendinopathy, and fractures is inconsistent or only available from low-powered studies. To our knowledge, no comparative studies examining platelet-rich plasma treatment for partial ulnar collateral ligament tears in the elbow currently exist.» Current evidence suggests that different platelet-rich plasma formulations are needed for different tissues and pathologies. Ultimately, improved understanding of the underlying structural and compositional deficiencies of the injured tissue will help to identify the biologic needs that can potentially be targeted with platelet-rich plasma.