title: Patellar tendon healing with platelet-rich plasma: a prospective randomized controlled trial.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The patellar tendon has limited ability to heal after harvesting its central third. Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) could improve patellar tendon healing.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  Adding PRP to the patellar tendon harvest site would improve donor site healing and improve clinical outcome at 6 months after anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction with a patellar tendon graft.
  
  
  METHODS
  Randomized controlled trial; Level of evidence, 1.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty-seven patients were randomly divided to receive (n = 12) or not receive (n = 15) PRP in the patellar tendon harvest site during ACL reconstruction. The primary outcome was magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) assessment of patellar tendon healing (gap area) after 6 months. Secondary outcomes were questionnaires and isokinetic testing of ACL reconstruction with a patellar tendon graft comparing both groups.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Patellar tendon gap area was significantly smaller in the PRP group (4.9 ± 5.3 mm(2); 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.1-8.8) than in the control group (9.4 ± 4.4 mm(2); 95% CI, 6.6-12.2; P = .046). Visual analog scale score for pain was lower in the PRP group immediately postoperatively (3.8 ± 1.0; 95% CI, 3.18-4.49) than in the control group (5.1 ± 1.4; 95% CI, 4.24-5.90; P = .02). There were no differences after 6 months in questionnaire and isokinetic testing results comparing both groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We showed that PRP had a positive effect on patellar tendon harvest site healing on MRI after 6 months and also reduced pain in the immediate postoperative period. Questionnaire and isokinetic testing results were not different between the groups at 6 months.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedics and Traumatology, São Paulo University Medical School, FIFA Medical Centre of Excellence, R. Dr. Ovidio Pires de Campos, 333, Cerqueira César, 05403-010 São Paulo, Brazil. adrianoalmeida@usp.br
authors.forename: Adriano Marques
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: de Almeida
authors.forename: Marco Kawamura
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Demange
authors.forename: Marcel Faraco
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Sobrado
authors.forename: Marcelo Bordalo
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Rodrigues
authors.forename: André
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pedrinelli
authors.forename: Arnaldo José
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Hernandez
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D016118:Anterior Cruciate Ligament / Q000601:surgery; D000070598:Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injuries; D059549:Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction / Q000379:methods*; D050376:Bone-Patellar Tendon-Bone Grafting / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D010147:Pain Measurement; D010149:Postoperative Pain; D017847:Patellar Ligament / Q000601:surgery*; D053657:Platelet-Rich Plasma; D013708:Tendon Injuries / Q000628:therapy*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult