Abstract
Background
Platelet rich plasma has been promoted as a biologic agent to enhance tissue healing.
As a concentration of autologous growth factors, it has gained increased use in musculoskeletal
applications.
Methods
The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of intra-operative PRP on patient-reported
outcomes 2 years after ACL reconstruction with tibialis anterior allograft. Fifty patients who
underwent allograft ACL reconstruction with intra-operative application of PRP to
the graft were matched with 50 allograft ACL -reconstructions without PRP use. The
same surgeon performed all procedures with identical technique. Two year patient-reported
outcomes including KOOS, IKDC, and Marx activity scores were obtained. Effusions in
the immediate post-operative period, post-operative complications, and any subsequent
procedures were also recorded.
Results
There was no difference between the groups with respect to additional surgeries or
complications in the first 2 years after reconstruction. Decreased effusions at 10±4 days were noted in the PRP group, but this difference disappeared by 8±4 weeks. No differences in patient-reported outcomes were noted in the 58 patients with
two-year outcome data.
Conclusion
The study demonstrated that although PRP application in tibialis allograft ACL reconstructions
appeared safe; clinical benefit was minor and short-term. No differences in patient-reported
outcomes or number of additional surgeries at 2 years were noted.
Level of evidence
Level III — retrospective comparative study.
Keywords
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Article info
Publication history
Published online: December 26, 2012
Accepted:
December 1,
2012
Received in revised form:
November 19,
2012
Received:
February 27,
2012
Identification
Copyright
© 2012 Elsevier B.V. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
