Platelet-rich plasma as a treatment for chronic patellar tendinopathy: comparison of a single versus two consecutive injections.
BACKGROUND
platelet-rich-plasma is increasingly used in chronic patellar tendinopathy. Ideal number of PRP injections needed is not yet established. This study compares the clinical outcomes of a single versus two consecutive PRP injections.


METHODS
between December 2009 and January 2012, 40 athletes with proximal patellar tendinopathy were treated by PRP injection. Patients received single (20 patients) or two PRP injections 2 weeks apart (20 patients). All patients underwent prospective clinical evaluation, including Victorian Institute of Sport Assessment-Patella (VISA-P) score, visual analog scale (VAS) for pain, and Tegner scale before PRP and after a minimum of 2 year follow-up.


RESULTS
9 patients failed PRP treatment and needed surgery. 1 patient was lost to follow-up. For the remaining patients, the VISA-P, VAS, and Tegner scores all significantly improved from 35.2 to 78.5 (p = 0.0001), 6.6 to 2.4 (p = 0.0001), and 4.8 to 6.9 (p = 0.0003). Patients who received two injections had better scores than those who received single injection with VAS of 1.07 versus 3.7 (p = 0.0005), Tegner score of 8.1 versus 5.9 (p = 0.0003) and VISA-P of 93.2 versus 65.7 (p = 0.0001).


CONCLUSIONS
two consecutive PRP injections in chronic patellar tendinopathy showed better improvement in outcomes when compared to single injection.


METHODS
randomized prospective consecutive series, Level 2.
Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Saint-Vincent Hospital, Université Catholique de Lille, France.
Rachad
R
Zayni
Générale de Santé, Hôpital Privé Jean Mermoz, Centre Orthopédique Santy, Lyon, France.
Mathieu
M
Thaunat
Générale de Santé, Hôpital Privé Jean Mermoz, Centre Orthopédique Santy, Lyon, France.
Jean-Marie
JM
Fayard
Générale de Santé, Hôpital Privé Jean Mermoz, Centre Orthopédique Santy, Lyon, France.
Jean-Philippe
JP
Hager
Générale de Santé, Hôpital Privé Jean Mermoz, Centre Orthopédique Santy, Lyon, France.
Yannick
Y
Carrillon
Générale de Santé, Hôpital Privé Jean Mermoz, Centre Orthopédique Santy, Lyon, France.
Julien
J
Clechet
Générale de Santé, Hôpital Privé Jean Mermoz, Centre Orthopédique Santy, Lyon, France.
François
F
Gadea
Générale de Santé, Hôpital Privé Jean Mermoz, Centre Orthopédique Santy, Lyon, France.
Pooler
P
Archbold
Générale de Santé, Hôpital Privé Jean Mermoz, Centre Orthopédique Santy, Lyon, France.
Bertrand
B
Sonnery Cottet
conservative treatment; eccentric exercises; patellar tendon; platelet-rich-plasma; tendinopathy