Radiological and functional outcomes of ultrasound-guided PRP injections in intrasubstance meniscal degenerations

Abstract

Aim: This retrospective study is aimed to analyze the effect of ultrasound-guided platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injections on grade 2 intrasubstance meniscal degenerations (IMDs).

Materials and methods: Fifteen patients who underwent PRP injections for symptomatic grade 2 meniscal lesions were included in the study. All injections were performed with ultrasound in the degenerated menisci. Patients were evaluated with Lysholm score and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) before the injection and after a mean of 32-month follow-up. T2-weighted MRI images were evaluated on sagittal by two authors as double-blind.

Results: Lysholm score was found to be statistically significantly increased, and in 67% of the patients, grade 2 degenerations were improved to grade 1.

Conclusion: Intra-meniscal PRP injection under ultrasonography guidance provides good functional scores and radiological improvement in the patients with IMD.

Keywords: grade 2 meniscal degeneration; intrasubstance meniscal degeneration; platelet-rich plasma (PRP).