Platelet Concentration Does Not Influence Clinical Efficacy and Retear Rates of Rotator Cuff Repair With...

Area of Science:

• Orthopedic Surgery
• Regenerative Medicine
• Biomaterials Science

Background:

• Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) is increasingly used to enhance rotator cuff repair (RCR) outcomes.
• Existing research on PRP's efficacy in RCR presents conflicting results.
• The impact of PRP's specific platelet concentration on RCR success is not well-defined.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate if the platelet concentration of PRP injections influences clinical outcomes and retear rates in RCR.
• To analyze the dose-dependent effect of PRP on patient recovery after rotator cuff repair.

Main Methods:

• Systematic review and meta-analysis of level 1 and 2 evidence.
• Searched PubMed, Cochrane Library, and Embase for studies on RCR with PRP augmentation.
• Classified studies by PRP dose (high-dose >4-fold vs. low-dose) and analyzed patient-reported outcomes and retear rates.

Main Results:

• Ten studies involving 696 patients (346 PRP, 350 control) were included.
• No significant differences were found in visual analog scale, Constant-Murley, American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons, or University of California-Los Angeles scores between high-dose and low-dose PRP groups.
• Pooled odds ratios for retear rates also showed no significant difference based on PRP platelet concentration.

Conclusions:

• Platelet concentration of PRP may not be a critical factor affecting clinical outcomes or retear rates in RCR.
• Further high-quality studies are required to clarify the role and optimal application of PRP in rotator cuff repair.
• Standardized reporting of PRP preparation and composition is essential for future research.