Platelet-Poor Plasma: A Novel Treatment for Acute Quadriceps Muscle Injuries

To evaluate the efficacy of platelet-poor plasma (PPP) for the treatment of acute quadriceps muscle strains.

Cohort study.

Outpatient Sports Medicine Clinic.

Consecutive patients from January 2021 to January 2023 with an acute quadriceps muscle injury were included.

Quadriceps muscle strain PPP injection.

Number of days until return to full unrestricted participation in sport.

Thirty-seven consecutive patients were included. Twelve (32%) of patients were female. The rectus femoris muscle was most commonly involved (73%), followed by the vastus medialis (21.6%). In total, 48.7% of injuries were modified British Athletics Muscle Injury Classification grade 3b. On average, patients returned to full activity 30 days (±15) postinjury when including all injury grades. One recurrent quadriceps muscle injury was seen within 12 months postinjury.

Platelet-poor plasma may be considered an effective treatment for acute quadriceps muscle injuries with a low injury recurrence rate, and may expedite time until return to activity.