Platelet rich plasma in arthroscopic rotator cuff repair: a prospective RCT study, 2-year follow-up

• DOI: 10.1016/j.jse.2011.02.008
• Publication Date: 2011-05-21T11:30:50Z
• Authors: Pietro Randelli; Paolo Arrigoni; Vincenza Ragone; Alberto Aliprandi; Paolo Cabitza
• Keywords: Male; Rupture; Pain, Postoperative; Wound Healing; Platelet-Rich Plasma; Arthroscopy; Growth factors; Level I; Platelet rich plasma; Randomized Controlled Trial; Rotator cuff repair; Shoulder; Treatment Study; Recovery of Function; Middle Aged; Arthroscopy; Growth factors; Level I; Platelet rich plasma; Randomized Controlled Trial; Rotator cuff repair; Shoulder; Treatment Study;; Magnetic Resonance Imaging; Rotator Cuff Injuries; 3. Good health; Arthroscopy; Rotator Cuff; 03 medical and health sciences; 0302 clinical medicine; Humans; Female; Aged; Follow-Up Studies; Pain Measurement

Local application of autologous platelet rich plasma (PRP) improves tendon healing in patients undergoing arthroscopic rotator cuff repair.Prospective, randomized, controlled, double blind study; considering an alpha level of 5%, a power of 80%, 22 patients for group are needed.Fifty-three patients who underwent shoulder arthroscopy for the repair of a complete rotator cuff tear were randomly divided into 2 groups, using a block randomization procedure. A treatment group (N = 26) consisted of those who received an intraoperative application of PRP in combination with an autologous thrombin component. A control group (N = 27) consisted of those who did not receive that treatment. Patients were evaluated with validated outcome scores. A magnetic resonance image (MRI) was performed in all cases at more than 1 year post-op. All patients had the same accelerated rehabilitation protocol.The 2 groups were homogeneous. The pain score in the treatment group was lower than the control group at 3, 7, 14, and 30 days after surgery (P < .05). On the Simple Shoulder Test (SST), University of California (UCLA), and Constant scores, strength in external rotation, as measured by a dynamometer, were significantly higher in the treatment group than the control group at 3 months after surgery (strength in external rotation [SER]: 3 ± 1.6 vs 2.1 ± 1.3 kg; SST: 8.9 ± 2.2 vs 7.1 ± 2.7; UCLA: 26.9 ± 3 vs 24.2 ± 4.9; Constant: 65 ± 9 vs 57.8 ± 11; P < .05). There was no difference between the 2 groups after 6, 12, and 24 months. The follow-up MRI showed no significant difference in the healing rate of the rotator cuff tear. In the subgroup of grade 1 and 2 tears, with less retraction, SER in the PRP group was significant higher at 3, 6, 12, and 24 months postoperative (P < .05).The results of our study showed autologous PRP reduced pain in the first postoperative months. The long-term results of subgroups of grade 1 and 2 tears suggest that PRP positively affected cuff rotator healing.