The effect of platelet-derived growth factors on knee stability after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction: a prospective randomized clinical study.
BACKGROUND
Arthroscopic reconstruction is a standard surgical procedure in cases of symptomatic knee instability due to rupture of the anterior cruciate ligament. Bone-tendon-bone and hamstring tendon grafts are both in use for anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction. There are no significant differences between the two types of graft in relation to function scores, but there is a difference in anteroposterior stability when measured on the KT-2000 arthrometer: knee joints after reconstruction with bone-tendon-bone autografts are more stable than those reconstructed with hamstring tendon autografts.


OBJECTIVE
To improve knee stability after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction with a hamstring graft and use of platelet-derived growth factors.


METHODS
Platelet-leukocyte gel was produced from platelet-leukocyte-rich plasma prepared from a unit of whole blood in an autologous platelet separator. The gel was applied locally, after hamstring graft placement. Fifty patients were included in the study: 25 in the platelet gel group, 25 in a control group. We evaluated anteroposterior knee stability with the KT-2000 arthrometer before surgery and at 3 and 6 months after surgery.


RESULTS
Patients treated with the gel demonstrated significantly better anteroposterior knee stability than patients in the control group. The calculated improvements in knee stability at 6 months were 1.3 +/- 1.8 mm in the control group and 3.1 +/- 2.5 mm in the platelet gel group (P = 0.011).


CONCLUSIONS
Platelet-leukocyte gel, applied locally, can improve knee stability in surgery for reconstruction of the anterior cruciate ligament.
Department of Orthopedic Surgery, University Hospital Maribor, Maribor, Slovenia. matjazvogrin@hotmail.com
Matjaz
M
Vogrin
Mitja
M
Rupreht
Anton
A
Crnjac
Dejan
D
Dinevski
Zmago
Z
Krajnc
Gregor
G
Recnik
D000287:Administration, Topical; D000328:Adult; D016118:Anterior Cruciate Ligament / Q000601:surgery*; D000070598:Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injuries; D053587:Arthrometry, Articular; D001182:Arthroscopy; D055513:Connective Tissue Growth Factor / Q000008:administration & dosage; D004815:Epidermal Growth Factor / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005260:Female; D016222:Fibroblast Growth Factor 2 / Q000008:administration & dosage; D006133:Growth Substances / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D006801:Humans; D007593:Joint Instability / Q000601:surgery*; D007718:Knee Injuries / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010982:Platelet-Derived Growth Factor / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D010983:Plateletpheresis / Q000295:instrumentation; D012421:Rupture; D013709:Tendon Transfer; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta / Q000008:administration & dosage; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000008:administration & dosage; D055815:Young Adult
C526317:CCN2 protein, human; D006133:Growth Substances; D010982:Platelet-Derived Growth Factor; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta; C467484:VEGFA protein, human; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D016222:Fibroblast Growth Factor 2; D055513:Connective Tissue Growth Factor; D004815:Epidermal Growth Factor