The efficacy of platelet rich plasma on anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Abstract

Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) rupture is a common musculoskeletal injury, most frequently affecting young and physically active patients. Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) has been widely used in ACL reconstruction to augment the graft healing. However, high-level studies addressing its clinical efficacy could not reach a consensus. In this study, we assess the efficacy of PRP on pain relief, functional improvement along with radiological changes in patients who underwent ACL reconstruction. We performed comprehensive literature search and included 17 RCTs containing 970 participants who underwent ACL reconstruction. The combined data showed significant difference between PRP and control with regard to VAS score (MD: -1.12, 95% CI -1.92, -0.31; P = .007), subjective IKDC score (MD: 6.08, 95% CI 4.39, 7.77; P < .00001) and Lysholm score (MD: 8.49, 95% CI 1.63, 15.36; P = .02) by postoperative 6 months, but only pain reduction was deemed clinically important. At the end of one year's follow-up, no clinically meaningful improvement in VAS (MD: -0.47, P = .04), subjective IKDC score (MD: 3.99, P = .03), Lysholm score (MD: 2.30, P = .32), objective IKDC score (RR: 1.03, P = .09) and knee joint laxity (MD: 0.17, P = .28) was seen. In terms of radiological findings, about one-third of the studies favored PRP to facilitate the graft healing, improve the harvest site morbidity and prevent tunnel widening. In summary, moderate quality of evidence suggested that PRP could provide short-term but not long-term clinically important pain reduction.

Keywords: Anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction; biologic healing enhancement; meta-analysis; pain; platelet-rich plasma; systematic review.