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Platelet-rich plasma in patients with tibiofemoral cartilage degeneration

  • Arthroscopy and Sports Medicine
  • Published:
Archives of Orthopaedic and Trauma Surgery Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Introduction

Recently an articular cartilage repair has been given much attention in the orthopaedic field. Cartilage regeneration capacity is very limited. Optimal approach seems to be a delivery of natural growth factors. Autologous platelet-rich plasma (PRP) contains proliferative and chemoattractant growth factors. The objective of the present study was to determine if PRP can increase tibiofemoral cartilage regeneration and improve knee function.

Materials and methods

Fifty consecutive and strictly selected patients, affected by Grade II or III chondromalatia, underwent 1 year treatment (9 injections) with autologous PRP in a liquid form with 2.0 to 2.5-fold platelets concentration. Outcome measures included the Lysholm, Tegner, IKDC, and Cincinnati scores. Magnetic resonance imaging was used to evaluate cartilage thickness and degree of degeneration.

Results

The study demonstrated significant improvement in Lysholm (p < 0.05), Tegner (p < 0.05), IKDC (p < 0.05), and Cincinnati (p < 0.05) scores. Results improved at 12-month follow-up. Cartilage assessment revealed no significant cartilage regeneration (p < 0.05). There were no adverse events reported.

Conclusions

PRP significantly reduced pain and improved quality of live in patients with low degree of cartilage degeneration. Magnetic resonance imaging did not confirmed any significant cartilage condition improvement.

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Acknowledgments

This research was supported by the by Grant No. NT 12057-5/2011 of the Ministry of Health of the Czech Republic.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Orthopaedic and Traumatologic Surgery, Hospital Znojmo, MUDr. Jana Janského 11, 669 02, Znojmo, Czech Republic

    Radek Hart, Adel Safi & Martin Komzák

  2. Department of Traumatologic Surgery, Faculty of Medecine, University of Masaryk at Brno, Ponávka 6, 602 00, Brno, Czech Republic

    Radek Hart

  3. Department of Hematology, Hospital Znojmo, MUDr. Jana Janského 11, 669 02, Znojmo, Czech Republic

    Pavel Jajtner

  4. Department of Radiology, Hospital Znojmo, MUDr. Jana Janského 11, 669 02, Znojmo, Czech Republic

    Miloš Puskeiler

  5. Department of Psychiatry, Hospital Znojmo, Vídeňská 8, 669 02, Znojmo, Czech Republic

    Petra Hartová

Authors
  1. Radek Hart
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  2. Adel Safi
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  3. Martin Komzák
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  4. Pavel Jajtner
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  5. Miloš Puskeiler
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  6. Petra Hartová
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Correspondence to Martin Komzák.

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Hart, R., Safi, A., Komzák, M. et al. Platelet-rich plasma in patients with tibiofemoral cartilage degeneration. Arch Orthop Trauma Surg 133, 1295–1301 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00402-013-1782-x

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00402-013-1782-x

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