Intraoperative platelet rich plasma usage in total knee arthroplasty: does it help?

Area of Science:

• Orthopedic Surgery
• Regenerative Medicine
• Biologics in Arthroplasty

Background:

• Autologous platelet-rich plasma (PRP) preparations, known as platelet gel, are purported to enhance outcomes in total knee replacement (TKR).
• Reported benefits include reduced blood loss, improved range of motion (ROM), and a low complication profile.

Purpose of the Study:

• To retrospectively evaluate the efficacy of platelet gel in primary total knee arthroplasty (TKA).
• To compare postsurgical outcomes between TKA patients receiving platelet gel versus a control group.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective review of 268 primary TKA cases.
• Comparison between a platelet gel group (135 cases) and a control group (133 cases).
• Outcomes assessed: postsurgical ROM at 2, 8, and 12 weeks, knee manipulation rates, hemoglobin change, and complications.

Main Results:

• No statistically significant differences were observed between the platelet gel and control groups in manipulation rates (P > 0.05).
• Knee range of motion at all measured time points (2, 8, 12 weeks) showed no significant difference between groups.
• Changes in hemoglobin levels at 72 hours postoperatively and overall complication rates were similar between the two groups.

Conclusions:

• The use of autologous platelet gel in primary total knee arthroplasty did not demonstrate a significant benefit regarding range of motion, blood loss, or manipulation rates up to 3 months post-surgery.
• Further research may be warranted to explore potential specific indications or alternative applications of PRP in orthopedic procedures.