title: Comparing hybrid hyaluronic acid with PRP in end career athletes with degenerative cartilage lesions of the knee.
abstract: Cartilage lesions are very common causes of chronic knee pain in athletes. Current treatment options consist in conservative strategies, such as viscosupplementation and platelet-rich plasma injections. This randomized controlled trial aims to investigate the effect of intra-articular Hybrid Hyaluronic Acid injections compared to PRP for the treatment of cartilage lesions among athletes at the end of their career. Since March 2015, 48 professional soccer players were randomized into two groups: 24 patients received 3 injections of HHA and 23 patients received 3 intra-articular injections of PRP. All patients achieved a statistically significant clinical improvement from preoperative to postoperative time in both groups. Patients in the HHA group showed a significant superiority compared to PRP group at 3 and 6 months. Intergroup differences decrease gradually until loss of significance at 12 months follow-up. Athletes with chronic degenerative cartilage lesions of the knee responded positively both to HHA and PRP until last follow up.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedics and Trauma Surgery, Campus Bio-medico University of Rome, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Papalia
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedics and Trauma Surgery, Campus Bio-medico University of Rome, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Zampogna
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedics and Trauma Surgery, Campus Bio-medico University of Rome, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Russo
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedics and Trauma Surgery, Campus Bio-medico University of Rome, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Vasta
authors.affiliation: Department of Haematology, Stem Cell Transplantation, Transfusion Medicine and Cellular Therapy, Campus Bio-Medico University Hospital, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: M C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Tirindelli
authors.affiliation: Department of Haematology, Stem Cell Transplantation, Transfusion Medicine and Cellular Therapy, Campus Bio-Medico University Hospital, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Nobile
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedics and Trauma Surgery, Campus Bio-medico University of Rome, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: A C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Di Martino
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedics and Trauma Surgery, Campus Bio-medico University of Rome, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Vadalà
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedics and Trauma Surgery, Campus Bio-medico University of Rome, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Denaro
mesh_terms: D056352:Athletes; D002356:Cartilage / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D006820:Hyaluronic Acid / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007270:Injections, Intra-Articular; D020370:Osteoarthritis, Knee / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D053657:Platelet-Rich Plasma; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D006820:Hyaluronic Acid