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Platelet-rich plasma: does it help reduce tunnel widening after ACL reconstruction?

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

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of platelet-rich plasma (PRP) in reducing femoral and tibial tunnel enlargement in patients operated on for anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction with hamstrings.

Methods

Forty male patients, in which both femoral and tibial 9-mm tunnels were performed because of the graft size, were enrolled in this prospective study. They were randomly assigned to group A (20 patients, PRP group) and group B (20 patients, control group). All patients were followed up at a median of 14.7 months (range 10–16 months), with a physical examination, the Tegner, Lysholm and objective IKDC scoring scales, and with the KT-1000 arthrometer. Moreover, they underwent a CT evaluation in order to assess the amount of tunnel enlargement.

Results

Femoral tunnel diameter increased from 9.0 ± 0.1 mm to 9.8 ± 0.3 mm in group A (p = 0.032) and from 9.0 ± 0.1 mm to 9.4 ± 0.5 mm in group B (p = 0.043). Tibial tunnel diameter increased from 9.0 ± 0.2 mm to 10.9 ± 0.2 mm in group A (p = 0.029) and from 9.1 ± 0.1 mm to 10.1 ± 0.4 mm in group B (p = 0.028). Physical examination as well as the evaluation scales used showed no differences between the two groups.

Conclusions

The use of PRP does not seem to be effective in preventing tunnel enlargement.

Level of evidence

Therapeutic study, Level II.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Orthopaedic Unit and “Kirk Kilgour” Sports Injury Centre, S. Andrea Hospital, University of Rome “La Sapienza”, Via Grottarossa, 1035, Rome, Italy

    Antonio Vadalà, Raffaele Iorio, Angelo De Carli, Matteo Ferretti, Daniele Paravani, Ludovico Caperna, Carlo Iorio, Andrea Gatti & Andrea Ferretti

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  1. Antonio Vadalà
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  2. Raffaele Iorio
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  3. Angelo De Carli
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Correspondence to Antonio Vadalà.

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Vadalà, A., Iorio, R., De Carli, A. et al. Platelet-rich plasma: does it help reduce tunnel widening after ACL reconstruction?. Knee Surg Sports Traumatol Arthrosc 21, 824–829 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00167-012-1980-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00167-012-1980-z

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