title: The Effect of Autologous Platelet Rich Plasma in the Treatment of Achilles Tendon Ruptures: An Experimental Study on Rabbits.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Achilles tendon ruptures are characterized by a long recovery period, high re-rupture rate and late return to work. To overcome these difficulties and augment tendon repair, many agents have been used.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To determine the effect of autologous platelet rich plasma (PRP) in the treatment of Achilles tendon ruptures in rabbits.
  
  
  METHODS
  Animal experimentation.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study included 14 New Zealand albino rabbits that were divided randomly into 2 groups, A and B, each containing seven rabbits. On day zero, all 28 Achilles tendons were tenotomized and repaired. In group A, the tendons were injected with PRP post-surgery, whereas those in group B were left untreated. On day 28, the right tendons in both groups were examined histopathologically via both light and electron microscopy, and the left tendons were subjected to biomechanical testing.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The histological and biomechanical findings in both light and electron microscopy in group A were better than those in group B, but the difference was not significant. According to Tang's scale, the mean value in Group A was 3.57, while it was 3.0 in Group B. The mean value of Group A for the length of collagen bands was 48.09 nm while the mean value of Group B was 46.58 nm (p=0.406). In biomechanical tests, although stiffness values were higher in group A, the difference between groups was not significant. In addition, maximum load values did not differ between groups A and B.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  PRP had no effect on the healing process 28 days post-Achilles tendon rupture.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedics and Traumatology, Dokuz Eylül University Faculty of Medicine, İzmir, Turkey.
authors.forename: Baran
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Şen
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedics and Traumatology, Dokuz Eylül University Faculty of Medicine, İzmir, Turkey.
authors.forename: Serkan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Güler
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomechanics, Dokuz Eylül University Institute of Health Science, İzmir, Turkey.
authors.forename: Berivan
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Çeçen
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomechanics, Dokuz Eylül University Institute of Health Science, İzmir, Turkey.
authors.forename: Erdem
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Kumtepe
authors.affiliation: Department of Histology and Embriology, Dokuz Eylül University Faculty of Medicine, İzmir, Turkey.
authors.forename: Alper
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bağrıyanık
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Dokuz Eylül University Faculty of Medicine, İzmir, Turkey.
authors.forename: Sermin
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Özkal
authors.affiliation: Department of Hematology, Dokuz Eylül University Faculty of Medicine, İzmir, Turkey.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ali Özcan
authors.affiliation: Department of Hematology, Dokuz Eylül University Faculty of Medicine, İzmir, Turkey.
authors.forename: Hayri
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Özsan
authors.affiliation: Department of Hematology, Dokuz Eylül University Faculty of Medicine, İzmir, Turkey.
authors.forename: Namık
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Şanlı
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedics and Traumatology, Dokuz Eylül University Faculty of Medicine, İzmir, Turkey.
authors.forename: M Hasan
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Tatari
keywords: Achilles tendon; electron microscopy; platelet-rich plasma; tendon healing; tendon rupture