title: Platelet-rich plasma for arthroscopic repair of medium to large rotator cuff tears: a randomized controlled trial.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Two main questions about the use of platelet-rich plasma (PRP) for regeneration purposes are its effect on the speed of healing and the quality of healing. Despite recent numerous studies, evidence is still lacking in this area, especially in a representative patient population with medium to large rotator cuff tears.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To assess the efficacy of PRP augmentation on the speed and quality of healing in patients undergoing arthroscopic repair for medium to large rotator cuff tears.
  
  
  METHODS
  Randomized controlled trial; Level of evidence, 1.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 74 patients scheduled for arthroscopic repair of medium to large rotator cuff tears were randomly assigned to undergo either PRP-augmented repair (PRP group) or conventional repair (conventional group). In the PRP group, 3 PRP gels (3 × 3 mL) were applied to each patient between the torn end and the greater tuberosity. The primary outcome was the Constant score at 3 months after surgery. Secondary outcome measures included the visual analog scale (VAS) for pain, range of motion (ROM), muscle strength, overall satisfaction and function, functional scores, retear rate, and change in the cross-sectional area (CSA) of the supraspinatus muscle.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There was no difference between the 2 groups in the Constant score at 3 months (P > .05). The 2 groups had similar results on the VAS for pain, ROM, muscle strength, overall satisfaction and function, and other functional scores (all P > .05) except for the VAS for worst pain (P = .043). The retear rate of the PRP group (3.0%) was significantly lower than that of the conventional group (20.0%) (P = .032). The change in 1-year postoperative and immediately postoperative CSAs was significantly different between the 2 groups: -36.76 ± 45.31 mm(2) in the PRP group versus -67.47 ± 47.26 mm(2) in the conventional group (P = .014).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Compared with repairs without PRP augmentation, the current PRP preparation and application methods for medium to large rotator cuff repairs significantly improved the quality, as evidenced by a decreased retear rate and increased CSA of the supraspinatus, but not the speed of healing. However, further studies may be needed to investigate the effects of PRP on the speed of healing without risking the quality.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedic Surgery, SMG-SNU Boramae Medical Center, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea. chrisjo@snu.ac.kr.
authors.forename: Chris Hyunchul
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Jo
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedic Surgery, SMG-SNU Boramae Medical Center, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Ji Sun
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Shin
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedic Surgery, SMG-SNU Boramae Medical Center, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Won Hyoung
authors.initials: WH
authors.lastname: Shin
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedic Surgery, SMG-SNU Boramae Medical Center, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Seung Yeon
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedic Surgery, SMG-SNU Boramae Medical Center, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Kang Sup
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Yoon
authors.affiliation: Department of Laboratory Medicine, SMG-SNU Boramae Medical Center, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Sue
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Shin
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001178:Arthroplasty / Q000379:methods; D001182:Arthroscopy / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D053580:Muscle Strength / Q000502:physiology; D010147:Pain Measurement / Q000379:methods; D053657:Platelet-Rich Plasma; D011182:Postoperative Care / Q000379:methods; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular / Q000502:physiology; D017006:Rotator Cuff / Q000601:surgery*; D000070636:Rotator Cuff Injuries; D012421:Rupture / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D064232:Visual Analog Scale; D014945:Wound Healing / Q000502:physiology
keywords: biological augmentation; integrity; medium to large rotator cuff tear; platelet-rich plasma; retear; rotator cuff repair