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Impact of Platelet-Rich Plasma on Arthroscopic Repair of Small- to Medium-Sized Rotator Cuff Tears: A Randomized Controlled Trial
Orthopaedic Journal of Sports Medicine
  • Richard Holtby, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre
  • Monique Christakis, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre
  • Eran Maman, Tel Aviv University, Sackler Faculty of Medicine
  • Joy C. MacDermid, Western University
  • Tim Dwyer, University of Toronto Faculty of Medicine
  • George S. Athwal, St. Joseph's Health Care London
  • Kenneth Faber, St. Joseph's Health Care London
  • John Theodoropoulos, University of Toronto Faculty of Medicine
  • Linda J. Woodhouse, University of Alberta
  • Helen Razmjou, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
9-13-2016
URL with Digital Object Identifier
10.1177/2325967116665595
Abstract

© 2016, © The Author(s) 2016. Background: Increased interest in using platelet-rich plasma (PRP) as an augment to rotator cuff repair warrants further investigation, particularly in smaller rotator cuff tears. Purpose: To examine the effectiveness of PRP application in improving perioperative pain and function and promoting healing at 6 months after arthroscopic repair of small- or medium-sized rotator cuff tears. Study Design: Randomized controlled trial; Level of evidence, 1. Methods: This was a double-blinded randomized controlled trial of patients undergoing arthroscopic repair of partial- or full-thickness rotator cuff tears of up to 3 cm who were observed for 6 months. Patients were randomized to either repair and PRP application (study group) or repair only (control group) groups. The patient-oriented outcome measures utilized were the visual analog scale (VAS), the Short Western Ontario Rotator Cuff Index (ShortWORC), the American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons (ASES) form, and the Constant-Murley Score (CMS). Range of motion (ROM) and inflammatory and coagulation markers were measured before and after surgery. Magnetic resonance imaging was used at 6 months to assess retear and fatty infiltration rate. Results: Eighty-two patients (41 males) with a mean age of 59 ± 8 years were enrolled; 41 patients were included in each group. Both the PRP and control groups showed a significant improvement in their pain level based on the VAS within the first 30 days (P .05), retear (14% vs 18% full retear; P =.44), or fatty infiltration rate (P =.08). Conclusion: The PRP biological augmentation for repair of small- to medium-sized rotator cuff tears has a short-term effect on perioperative pain without any significant impact on patient-oriented outcome measures or structural integrity of the repair compared with control group.

Notes

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Published at:

Holtby, R., Christakis, M., Maman, E., MacDermid, J. C., Dwyer, T., Athwal, G. S., Faber, K., Theodoropoulos, J., Woodhouse, L. J., & Razmjou, H. (2016). Impact of Platelet-Rich Plasma on Arthroscopic Repair of Small- to Medium-Sized Rotator Cuff Tears: A Randomized Controlled Trial. Orthopaedic Journal of Sports Medicine. https://doi.org/10.1177/2325967116665595

Creative Commons License
Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0
Citation Information
Richard Holtby, Monique Christakis, Eran Maman, Joy C. MacDermid, et al.. "Impact of Platelet-Rich Plasma on Arthroscopic Repair of Small- to Medium-Sized Rotator Cuff Tears: A Randomized Controlled Trial" Orthopaedic Journal of Sports Medicine (2016)
Available at: http://works.bepress.com/joy-macdermid/103/