title: Does platelet-rich plasma enhance microfracture treatment for chronic focal chondral defects? An in-vivo study performed in a rat model.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of the present study was to compare the effectiveness of platelet-rich plasma (PRP) + microfracture and microfracture treatments in the healing of chronic focal chondral defects.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study included 57 adult male Sprague-Dawley rats. Forty-two rats were divided into three groups of 14 rats with a chondral defect (control, microfracture only, PRP+microfracture). The remaining 15 rats were used to produce the PRP preparation. The rats were then euthanatized at 3 and 6 weeks after treatment and examined. Histological analysis using the modified Pineda scoring system and immunohistochemical staining for Type 2 collagen were performed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  At both time intervals, control group histological scores (Week 3: 8.8±1.2, Week 6: 8.5±0.7) were higher than microfracture (Week 3: 6.8±1.0, Week 6: 7.1±0.6) and PRP+microfracture (Week 3: 6.4±1.3, Week 6: 5.7±1.2) scores (p<0.05). The microfracture group score was higher at Week 6 than the PRP+microfracture group (p<0.05). The degree of Type 2 collagen staining was higher at Week 6 in the PRP+microfracture group and was unique in showing staining at the cell membrane.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The addition of PRP application to microfracture treatment appears to enhance cartilage healing in chronic focal chondral defects.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedics and Traumatology, Faculty of Medicine, Dokuz Eylül University, İzmir, Turkey. onurhapa@gmail.com
authors.forename: Onur
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Hapa
authors.forename: Hüsamettin
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Çakici
authors.forename: Halil Yalçin
authors.initials: HY
authors.lastname: Yüksel
authors.forename: Tülin
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Fırat
authors.forename: Aysel
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kükner
authors.forename: Hayati
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Aygün
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000378:metabolism; D001861:Bone Regeneration / Q000187:drug effects*; D002358:Cartilage, Articular / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D019902:Chondrocytes / Q000378:metabolism; D002908:Chronic Disease; D024043:Collagen Type II / Q000096:biosynthesis; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D015552:Injections, Intralesional; D035002:Lower Extremity / Q000601:surgery; D008297:Male; D053657:Platelet-Rich Plasma; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D014945:Wound Healing
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D024043:Collagen Type II