Hype, Promise, and Reality: Orthopedic Use of Biologics in 2019 (AANA19)-Platelet-Rich Plasma in Orthopaedic Sports Medicine_ Level I Clinical Evidence in 2019-Dr. Cathal J. Moran, M.D.

Platelet-Rich Plasma in Orthopaedic Sports Medicine_ Level I Clinical Evidence in 2019-Dr. Cathal J. Moran, M.D.

Video Transcription

Video Summary

The speaker discusses the current evidence on platelet-rich plasma (PRP) treatments for musculoskeletal conditions, highlighting mixed and often inconclusive results. PRP shows statistically significant benefits for knee osteoarthritis, improving pain and function in multiple studies. However, evidence is unclear or insufficient for patellar tendinopathy, hamstring injuries, ACL reconstruction (donor site and graft tunnel healing), and lateral epicondylitis, with some studies finding no significant advantage over placebos or other treatments. In arthroscopic rotator cuff repair, leukocyte-poor PRP improves tendon healing, pain, and function, while platelet-rich fibrin matrix (PRFM) does not show benefit. PRP is not supported for non-operative rotator cuff tendinopathy treatment. The speaker emphasizes the need for standardized PRP characterization in clinical trials, given variability in composition affects outcomes. Ultimately, while PRP is safe and promising, high-quality, well-defined clinical research is critical to clarify its efficacy across indications and biologics usage.

Asset Caption

Instructional Course Lecture: Hype, Promise, and Reality: Orthopedic Use of Biologics in 2019

Keywords

platelet-rich plasma

PRP

musculoskeletal conditions

knee osteoarthritis

rotator cuff repair