Use of platelet-rich plasma (PRP) for the treatment of chronic persistent Jumper’s knee

Abstract

Objectives: The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of multiple PRP injections on the healing of chronic persistent patellar tendinopathy, after previous classical treatment have failed. Methods: We treated 30 patients affected by chronic jumper's knee, who had failed previous nonsurgical treatments, with multiple PRP injections and physiotherapy. We also compared the clinical outcome with a homogeneous group of 15 patients primarily treated with the physiotherapy approach. Tegner, VAS, and pain level were used for clinical evaluation before, at the end of the treatment and 3-6 month follow up. Complications, functional recovery and patient satisfaction were also recorded. A statistically significant improvement in all scores was observed at the end of the PRP injections in patients with chronic persistent patellar tendinopathy and a further improvement was noted at 6 month, after physiotherapy was added. Results: Moreover, comparable results were obtained with respect to the less severe cases in the VAS score and pain level evaluation, as in the time to recover and patient satisfaction, with an ever higher improvement in the sports activity level achieved in the PRP group Conclusion: The clinical results are encouraging, indicating that PRP injections have the potential to promote the achievement of a satisfactory clinical outcome, even in difficult cases with chronic persistent tendinopathy after previous classical treatments have failed.