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Injections Including Platelet-Rich Plasma

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Elbow Ulnar Collateral Ligament Injury

Abstract

In the overhead athlete, medial ulnar collateral ligament (MUCL) insufficiency can develop from the repetitive valgus loads across the elbow during the throwing motion. This injury can be potentially career ending for the athlete. Treatment options include conservative care or potential surgical intervention with ligament reconstruction. Given the prolonged recovery period after surgical intervention, other avenues for successful treatment of MUCL insufficiency have been explored including potential injections into the ligament including platelet-rich plasma (PRP). Recently, PRP has drawn interest as a tool for biologic augmentation of tendon and ligamentous healing as it is an autologous concentration of platelets and growth factors including vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1), fibroblast growth factor-2 (FGF-2), platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF), and transforming growth factor-ß (TGF-ß). Recent clinical work has shown that PRP injections into the MUCL may play a role in the management for the young overhead athlete that has acute damage to an isolated part of the ligament, and in those athletes that are unwilling or unable to undergo the extended rehabilitation required after surgical reconstruction of the ligament.

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Disclosure

The authors did not receive any outside funding or grants in support of the research for or preparation of this work.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Mercy Health System, 3524 E Milwaukee St., 53546, Janesville, WI, USA

    Michael E. Angeline MD

  2. New York Mets Baseball Club, Flushing, NY, USA

    John M. Zajac PT

  3. Department of Orthopaedics and Sports Medicine, University of Washington Medical Center, Seattle, WA, USA

    Albert O. Gee MD

  4. Orthopedic Surgery, Sports & Shoulder Service, Hospital for Special Surgery, Weill Cornell, Medical College, Uniondale, NY, USA

    Joshua S. Dines MD

  5. Sports Medicine and Shoulder Service, Hospital for Special Surgery, New York, NY, USA

    David W. Altchek

Authors
  1. Michael E. Angeline MD
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  2. John M. Zajac PT
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  3. Albert O. Gee MD
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  4. Joshua S. Dines MD
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  5. David W. Altchek
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Michael E. Angeline MD .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Sports Medicine and Shoulder Service, Hospital for Special Surgery, New York, New York, USA

    Joshua S. Dines

  2. Sports Medicine and Shoulder Service, Hospital for Special Surgery, New York, New York, USA

    David W. Altchek

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Angeline, M., Zajac, J., Gee, A., Dines, J., Altchek, D. (2015). Injections Including Platelet-Rich Plasma. In: Dines, J., Altchek, D. (eds) Elbow Ulnar Collateral Ligament Injury. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4899-7540-9_11

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4899-7540-9_11

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Boston, MA

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  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4899-7540-9

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