Emerging techniques in orthopaedics: platelet-rich plasma

Area of Science:

• Orthopaedics
• Regenerative Medicine
• Biologics

Background:

• Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) is derived from autologous blood, concentrating platelets above baseline levels.
• PRP is gaining traction in orthopaedics for soft-tissue injury healing, particularly after conservative management failure or surgical needs.
• Current applications include treating acute and chronic tendinopathies in clinical and surgical settings.

Purpose of the Study:

• To inform clinicians about the role of platelet-rich plasma (PRP) in orthopaedic healing.
• To review the mechanisms of PRP and available commercial preparation systems.
• To highlight the need for robust clinical evidence regarding PRP efficacy.

Main Methods:

• Review of current literature on PRP in orthopaedics.
• Discussion of PRP preparation systems and their underlying principles.
• Analysis of the biological rationale for PRP in tissue healing.

Main Results:

• PRP offers potential adjunctive treatment options for soft-tissue injuries.
• Understanding the body's healing process is crucial for effective PRP application.
• Various commercial systems exist for PRP production, each with specific performance characteristics.

Conclusions:

• Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) presents additional therapeutic avenues for soft-tissue injuries.
• Clinicians require a foundational understanding of healing biology and PRP systems.
• There is a significant need for more high-quality, controlled clinical trials to validate PRP's efficacy in orthopaedic applications.