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Meta-Analysis
. 2018 Jul;46(8):2020-2032.
doi: 10.1177/0363546517743746. Epub 2017 Dec 21.

The Efficacy of Platelet-Rich Plasma on Tendon and Ligament Healing: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis With Bias Assessment

Xiao Chen  1 , Ian A Jones  1 , Caron Park  2 , C Thomas Vangsness Jr  1
Affiliations
Meta-Analysis

The Efficacy of Platelet-Rich Plasma on Tendon and Ligament Healing: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis With Bias Assessment

Xiao Chen et al. Am J Sports Med. 2018 Jul.

Abstract

Background: There has been a surge in high-level studies investigating platelet-rich plasma (PRP) for tendon and ligament injuries. A number of meta-analyses have been published, but few studies have focused exclusively on tendon and ligament injuries.

Purpose: To perform a meta-analysis assessing the ability of PRP to reduce pain in patients with tendon and ligament injuries.

Study design: Systematic review and meta-analysis.

Methods: This study followed the PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) guidelines. A comprehensive search of the literature was carried out in April 2017 using electronic databases PubMed, MEDLINE, and the Cochrane Library. Only level 1 studies were included. Platelet and leukocyte count, injection volume, kit used, participant age/sex, comparator, and activating agent used were recorded. The short-term and long-term efficacy of PRP was assessed using the visual analog scale (VAS) to measure pain intensity. Injury subgroups (rotator cuff, tendinopathy, anterior cruciate ligament, and lateral epicondylitis) were evaluated. Funnel plots and the Egger test were used to screen for publication bias, and sensitivity analysis was performed to evaluate the effect of potential outliers by removing studies one at a time.

Results: Thirty-seven articles were included in this review, 21 (1031 participants) of which could be included in the quantitative analysis. The majority of studies published investigated rotator cuff injuries (38.1%) or lateral epicondylitis (38.1%). Seventeen studies (844 participants) reported short-term VAS data, and 14 studies (771 participants) reported long-term VAS data. Overall, long-term follow-up results showed significantly less pain in the PRP group compared with the control group (weighted mean difference [WMD], -0.84; 95% CI, -1.23 to -0.44; P < .01). Patients treated with PRP for rotator cuff injuries (WMD, -0.53; 95% CI, -0.98 to -0.09; P = .02) and lateral epicondylitis (WMD, -1.39; 95% CI, -2.49 to -0.29; P = .01) reported significantly less pain in the long term. Substantial heterogeneity was reported at baseline ( I2 = 72.0%; P < .01), short-term follow-up ( I2 = 72.5%; P < .01), long-term follow-up ( I2 = 76.1%; P < .01), and overall ( I2 = 75.8%; P < .01). The funnel plot appeared to be asymmetric, with some missingness at the lower right portion of the plot suggesting possible publication bias.

Conclusion: This review shows that PRP may reduce pain associated with lateral epicondylitis and rotator cuff injuries.

Keywords: Achilles tendinopathy; PRP; anterior cruciate ligament; biologics; injection therapy; lateral epicondylitis; meta-analysis; patellar tendon; platelet-rich plasma; rotator cuff; systematic review; tendinopathy.

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Figures

Figure 1.
Figure 1.
Flow diagram outlining the process of literature search, selection, and review in this study.
Figure 2.
Figure 2.. Forest plot of the weighted mean difference between PRP and control by pathology subgroup at short term
WMD=weighted mean difference; CI=confidence intervals.
Figure 3.
Figure 3.. Forest plot of the weighted mean difference between PRP and control by pathology subgroup at long term
WMD=weighted mean difference; CI=confidence intervals.
Figure 4.
Figure 4.
Funnel plot of meta-analysis by pathology subgroups
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

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