Effect of Platelet-Rich Plasma Injection in Hamstring Injury: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Hamstring injury is a common sports trauma that severely affects patients' daily life and function. Platelet-rich plasma (PRP), an effective therapeutic strategy for musculoskeletal injuries, may be beneficial in promoting recovery from hamstring injury.

The aim of this study was to compare the prognosis of patients with hamstring injuries who were treated with injections of PRP.

In accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis guidelines, reviewers conducted a comprehensive search of the PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane Library databases to identify clinical studies comparing the efficacy of PRP injections combined with physical therapy (PT) versus PT alone in the treatment of hamstring injuries, specifically focusing on return-to-play time and reinjury rates. The relevant data were pooled, and a meta-analysis was performed.

Eight articles were included, including 330 patients. Quantitative analysis results showed that compared with only receiving PT, patients with hamstring injury who received PRP injection combined with PT had shorter return-to-play time (-2.29; 95% confidence interval, -4.11 to -0.47; P = .01), and reinjury rate also showed a tendency to be lower (0.79; 95% confidence interval, 0.34 to 1.83; P = .59).

Compared with PT alone, the combination of PRP injection and PT can accelerate patients' return to play and also appears to reduce the reinjury rate in patients with hamstring injuries. However, given the variability in treatment parameters across studies, the interpretation of these results should be approached with caution.