PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of multiple platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injections on the healing of chronic refractory patellar tendinopathy, and report the quality and duration of the clinical improvement up to a medium-term follow-up. METHODS: Forty-three patients (mean age, 30.6 years; mean BMI, 24.7; 42 men, one woman) affected by chronic patellar proximal tendinopathy were enrolled in this trial. Eleven patients were affected by bilateral tendinopathy. They underwent three ultrasound guided intra-tendinous injections of five millilitres PRP, two weeks apart from each other. Patients were prospectively evaluated initially, then after two, six, and up to mean 48.6 ± 8.1 months of follow-up (minimum evaluation at 36 months). The following evaluation tools were used: Blanzina, VISA-P, EQ-VAS for general health, and Tegner scores. Patients' overall satisfaction and time to return to sport were also reported. RESULTS: Good and stable results were documented over time, with the VISA-P score increasing from 44.1 ± 15.6 at baseline to 61.4 ± 22.2 at two months, 76.6 ± 25.4 at six months, and 84.3 ± 21.6 at four years' follow-up. The same trend was confirmed by the other scores used, and 80 % of the patients were satisfied and returned to previous sports activities. Significantly poorer results were obtained in patients with a longer history of symptoms, and poor results were also observed in bilateral lesions. No correlation between ultrasonographic and clinical findings could be found. CONCLUSIONS: Multiple injections of PRP provided a good clinical outcome for the treatment of chronic recalcitrant patellar tendinopathy with stable results up to medium-term follow-up. Patients affected by bilateral pathology and presenting a long history of pain obtained significantly poorer results.
PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of multiple platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injections on the healing of chronic refractory patellar tendinopathy, and report the quality and duration of the clinical improvement up to a medium-term follow-up. METHODS: Forty-three patients (mean age, 30.6 years; mean BMI, 24.7; 42 men, one woman) affected by chronic patellar proximal tendinopathy were enrolled in this trial. Eleven patients were affected by bilateral tendinopathy. They underwent three ultrasound guided intra-tendinous injections of five millilitres PRP, two weeks apart from each other. Patients were prospectively evaluated initially, then after two, six, and up to mean 48.6 ± 8.1 months of follow-up (minimum evaluation at 36 months). The following evaluation tools were used: Blanzina, VISA-P, EQ-VAS for general health, and Tegner scores. Patients' overall satisfaction and time to return to sport were also reported. RESULTS: Good and stable results were documented over time, with the VISA-P score increasing from 44.1 ± 15.6 at baseline to 61.4 ± 22.2 at two months, 76.6 ± 25.4 at six months, and 84.3 ± 21.6 at four years' follow-up. The same trend was confirmed by the other scores used, and 80 % of the patients were satisfied and returned to previous sports activities. Significantly poorer results were obtained in patients with a longer history of symptoms, and poor results were also observed in bilateral lesions. No correlation between ultrasonographic and clinical findings could be found. CONCLUSIONS: Multiple injections of PRP provided a good clinical outcome for the treatment of chronic recalcitrant patellar tendinopathy with stable results up to medium-term follow-up. Patients affected by bilateral pathology and presenting a long history of pain obtained significantly poorer results.
Authors: Mario Vetrano; Anna Castorina; Maria Chiara Vulpiani; Rossella Baldini; Antonio Pavan; Andrea Ferretti Journal: Am J Sports Med Date: 2013-02-13 Impact factor: 6.202
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Authors: Marieke de Mos; Wendy J L M Koevoet; Holger Jahr; Monique M A Verstegen; Marinus P Heijboer; Nicole Kops; Johannes P T M van Leeuwen; Harrie Weinans; Jan A N Verhaar; Gerjo J V M van Osch Journal: BMC Musculoskelet Disord Date: 2007-02-23 Impact factor: 2.362
Authors: Taralyn M McCarrel; Nathan A Mall; Andrew S Lee; Brian J Cole; Davietta C Butty; Lisa A Fortier Journal: Sports Med Date: 2014-08 Impact factor: 11.136