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. 2015 Jul 3;5(2):92-8.
eCollection 2015 Apr-Jun.

Platelet-rich plasma as a treatment for chronic patellar tendinopathy: comparison of a single versus two consecutive injections

Rachad Zayni  1 , Mathieu Thaunat  2 , Jean-Marie Fayard  2 , Jean-Philippe Hager  2 , Yannick Carrillon  2 , Julien Clechet  2 , François Gadea  2 , Pooler Archbold  2 , Bertrand Sonnery Cottet  2
Affiliations

Platelet-rich plasma as a treatment for chronic patellar tendinopathy: comparison of a single versus two consecutive injections

Rachad Zayni et al. Muscles Ligaments Tendons J. .

Abstract

Background: platelet-rich-plasma is increasingly used in chronic patellar tendinopathy. Ideal number of PRP injections needed is not yet established. This study compares the clinical outcomes of a single versus two consecutive PRP injections.

Method: between December 2009 and January 2012, 40 athletes with proximal patellar tendinopathy were treated by PRP injection. Patients received single (20 patients) or two PRP injections 2 weeks apart (20 patients). All patients underwent prospective clinical evaluation, including Victorian Institute of Sport Assessment-Patella (VISA-P) score, visual analog scale (VAS) for pain, and Tegner scale before PRP and after a minimum of 2 year follow-up.

Results: 9 patients failed PRP treatment and needed surgery. 1 patient was lost to follow-up. For the remaining patients, the VISA-P, VAS, and Tegner scores all significantly improved from 35.2 to 78.5 (p = 0.0001), 6.6 to 2.4 (p = 0.0001), and 4.8 to 6.9 (p = 0.0003). Patients who received two injections had better scores than those who received single injection with VAS of 1.07 versus 3.7 (p = 0.0005), Tegner score of 8.1 versus 5.9 (p = 0.0003) and VISA-P of 93.2 versus 65.7 (p = 0.0001).

Conclusions: two consecutive PRP injections in chronic patellar tendinopathy showed better improvement in outcomes when compared to single injection.

Level of evidence: randomized prospective consecutive series, Level 2.

Keywords: conservative treatment; eccentric exercises; patellar tendon; platelet-rich-plasma; tendinopathy.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
A) MRI (axial view) showing enhanced signal intensity in T2 sequences near the distal pole of patella with thickening of the tendon at this level. B) Ultrasound aspect of the tendon lesion. C) Ultrasound guided PRP injection procedure: knee was held in extension position to relax tendon fibers and to facilitate PRP diffusion. D) Ultrasound assessment of PRP injection.
Flowchart 1
Flowchart 1
Enrollment of patients in the study. FU: follow-up; ACL: anterior cruciate ligament
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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