title: Platelet-rich plasma: does it help reduce tunnel widening after ACL reconstruction?
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of platelet-rich plasma (PRP) in reducing femoral and tibial tunnel enlargement in patients operated on for anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction with hamstrings.
  
  
  METHODS
  Forty male patients, in which both femoral and tibial 9-mm tunnels were performed because of the graft size, were enrolled in this prospective study. They were randomly assigned to group A (20 patients, PRP group) and group B (20 patients, control group). All patients were followed up at a median of 14.7 months (range 10-16 months), with a physical examination, the Tegner, Lysholm and objective IKDC scoring scales, and with the KT-1000 arthrometer. Moreover, they underwent a CT evaluation in order to assess the amount of tunnel enlargement.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Femoral tunnel diameter increased from 9.0 ± 0.1 mm to 9.8 ± 0.3 mm in group A (p = 0.032) and from 9.0 ± 0.1 mm to 9.4 ± 0.5 mm in group B (p = 0.043). Tibial tunnel diameter increased from 9.0 ± 0.2 mm to 10.9 ± 0.2 mm in group A (p = 0.029) and from 9.1 ± 0.1 mm to 10.1 ± 0.4 mm in group B (p = 0.028). Physical examination as well as the evaluation scales used showed no differences between the two groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The use of PRP does not seem to be effective in preventing tunnel enlargement.
authors.affiliation: Orthopaedic Unit and Kirk Kilgour Sports Injury Centre, S. Andrea Hospital, University of Rome La Sapienza, Via Grottarossa, 1035, Rome, Italy. anto.vada@libero.it
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Vadalà
authors.forename: Raffaele
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Iorio
authors.forename: Angelo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: De Carli
authors.forename: Matteo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ferretti
authors.forename: Daniele
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Paravani
authors.forename: Ludovico
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Caperna
authors.forename: Carlo
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Iorio
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gatti
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ferretti
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D016118:Anterior Cruciate Ligament / Q000601:surgery*; D000070598:Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injuries; D005269:Femur / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D007593:Joint Instability / Q000601:surgery; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D061330:Multidetector Computed Tomography; D053657:Platelet-Rich Plasma; D013710:Tendons / Q000637:transplantation*; D013977:Tibia / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000601:surgery; D055815:Young Adult