The future: optimizing the healing environment in anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction

The therapeutic use of autologous platelet-rich plasma constitutes a breakthrough in the stimulation and acceleration of soft-tissue healing and bone regeneration. Platelet-rich technologies seek to facilitate anterior cruciate ligament replacement by mimicking the native tissue and improving the adequacy of tissue function with appropriate cues, ultimately leading to better patient care. There are different technical protocols for preparing platelet-rich plasma, and the resultant products are typically heterogeneous; moreover, protocols for administrating the products in patients vary extensively. Poor standardization in the field makes full evaluation of different plasma products and establishing standards for the most beneficial applications of this technology difficult. This article presents the current data on the use of platelet-rich plasma in the reconstruction of the anterior cruciate ligament. Although the findings are not conclusive, the use of autologous platelet-rich plasma is shown to be safe, reproducible, and effective in mimicking the natural processes of soft tissue and bone healing. Platelet-rich technologies offer new opportunities for research and the application of anterior cruciate ligament tissue engineering.