The Use of Platelet-Rich Plasma Preparations in the Treatment of Musculoskeletal Injuries in Orthopaedic Sports Medicine

The use of platelet rich plasma (PRP) has been has become extremely popular in orthopaedic practice. The goal of PRP treatment is to concentrate growth factors present in the platelets and reintroduce them at the site of injury augmenting the natural healing process. The most common application of PRP is the treatment of tendon injuries. Other current applications include muscle strains and cartilage repair. Most reports over the use of PRP in in-vitro models have been particularly promising. However clinical applications are more controversial. This is the consequence of the lack of well-performed randomized controlled trials (RCT) and general confusion concerning the manufacturing process of PRP. Up to date there is still no consensus regarding the optimal platelet concentration, the platelet separation technique, the volume of concentrate, number of applications, and inclusion of leukocytes. Since these aspects are fundamental to achieve optimal PRP action, further research is needed to adopt standardized protocols and to prove the real efficacy of PRP. (C) 2013 Published by Elsevier Inc.