Double-Blind Randomized Controlled Trial: Injection of Autologous Blood in the Treatment of Chronic Patella Tendinopathy-A Pilot Study

Objective:To assess the efficacy of autologous blood injections (ABIs) against saline in patients with chronic recalcitrant patella tendinopathy (PT).Design:Double-blind randomized controlled study.Setting:Homerton Hospital Sports Medicine department.Patients:Those with a diagnosis of refractory patellar tendinopathy were recruited between March 2010 and March 2012.Interventions:Using 2 practitioners, patients were randomized to either receive ABIs or saline injections.Main Outcome Measures:All patients completed the Short-Form McGill Pain Questionnaire (MPQ), a visual analog scale (VAS), and a Victoria Institute of Sport Assessment for Patella Tendinopathy scale over a 12-month period.Results:Twenty-two patients completed the final review at 12 months and were included in the study. Subjects ranged in age from 22 and 61 years and were randomized to 11 in each ABI and saline groups. Autologous blood injection group had a mean duration of symptoms of 16.7 months, whereas that of the saline group was 19.2 months. The saline group mean VAS score was reduced from 7.9 to 4.5 at 1 month (P = 0.003) and 3.3 (P = 0.005) at 1 year. With ABI, the score was reduced from 7.5 to 4.5 (P = 0.005) at 1 month and 3.1 (P = 0.003) at 1 year. Victoria Institute of Sport Assessment for Patella Tendinopathy, MPQ, and VAS scores improved significantly in both groups.Conclusions:This study demonstrated that both the ABI and saline groups experienced a significant improvement in symptoms. However, when the results were compared, there was no statistical difference between the 2 groups.