Platelet-Rich Plasma Injection in Non-Operative Treatment of Partial-Thickness Rotator Cuff Tears: A Systematic...

Area of Science:

• Orthopedics and Sports Medicine
• Regenerative Medicine
• Biologics in Musculoskeletal Repair

Background:

• Partial-thickness rotator cuff tears are common in the elderly population.
• Current treatment strategies for these tears remain a subject of debate.
• Platelet-rich plasma (PRP), known for its regenerative properties, is being explored for treating these tears, but its efficacy in non-operative settings requires clarification.

Purpose of the Study:

• To systematically review and meta-analyze the effectiveness of platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injections for partial-thickness rotator cuff tears.
• To evaluate PRP's impact on shoulder function and pain relief at various follow-up intervals (3-6 weeks, 8-12 weeks, >24 weeks).
• To compare PRP's outcomes against placebo and corticosteroid treatments.

Main Methods:

• A systematic review and meta-analysis of relevant studies.
• Literature search conducted across PubMed, EMBASE, and Cochrane databases.
• Eleven studies involving 641 patients (318 PRP, 323 controls) were included; study quality assessed using Cochrane risk-of-bias tool; effectiveness analyzed using standardized mean difference.

Main Results:

• Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) demonstrated significantly superior shoulder function improvement and pain relief compared to placebo at all assessed follow-up times.
• PRP showed significantly better outcomes than other conservative treatments for shoulder function and pain relief at 8-12 weeks and beyond 24 weeks post-treatment.
• The analysis included 11 studies with a total of 641 patients.

Conclusions:

• Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injections show positive effects in improving shoulder function and alleviating pain for partial-thickness rotator cuff tears.
• The benefits of PRP are particularly pronounced in the later stages of follow-up, specifically after 8 weeks.
• PRP represents a potentially effective non-operative treatment option for partial-thickness rotator cuff tears.