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Does platelet-rich plasma decrease time to return to sports in acute muscle tear? A randomized controlled trial

  • Sports Medicine
  • Published:
Knee Surgery, Sports Traumatology, Arthroscopy Aims and scope

Abstract

Purpose

The aim of this study is to report the effects of autologous PRP injections on time to return to play and recurrence rate after acute grade 2 muscle injuries in recreational and competitive athletes.

Methods

Seventy-five patients diagnosed with acute muscle injuries were randomly allocated to autologous PRP therapy combined with a rehabilitation programme or a rehabilitation programme only. The primary outcome of this study was time to return to play. In addition, changes in pain severity and recurrence rates were evaluated.

Results

Patients in the PRP group achieved full recovery significantly earlier than controls (P = 0.001). The mean time to return to play was 21.1 ± 3.1 days and 25 ± 2.8 days for the PRP and control groups, respectively (P = 0.001). Significantly lower pain severity scores were observed in the PRP group throughout the study. The difference in the recurrence rate after 2-year-follow-up was not statistically significant between groups.

Conclusions

A single PRP injection combined with a rehabilitation programme significantly shortened time to return to sports compared to a rehabilitation programme only. Recurrence rate was not significantly different between groups.

Level of evidence

I.

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Acknowledgments

This study was approved by the Ethical committee of the Italian Hospital from Buenos Aires. IRB: 00003580, study protocol number 1772.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Italian Hospital from Buenos Aires, Peron 4190, C1199ABB, Buenos Aires, Argentina

    Luciano Andrés Rossi, Agustín Rubén Molina Rómoli, Bernardo Agustín Bertona Altieri, Jose Aurelio Burgos Flor, Walter Edgardo Scordo & Cristina María Elizondo

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  1. Luciano Andrés Rossi
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  2. Agustín Rubén Molina Rómoli
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  3. Bernardo Agustín Bertona Altieri
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  6. Cristina María Elizondo
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Correspondence to Agustín Rubén Molina Rómoli.

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Rossi, L.A., Molina Rómoli, A.R., Bertona Altieri, B.A. et al. Does platelet-rich plasma decrease time to return to sports in acute muscle tear? A randomized controlled trial. Knee Surg Sports Traumatol Arthrosc 25, 3319–3325 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00167-016-4129-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00167-016-4129-7

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