Clinical efficacy of platelet-rich plasma combined with arthroscopic meniscal plasty on pain, function and physiologic indicators in elderly patients with knee meniscus injury: a retrospective observational study.

OBJECTIVE

To explore the clinical efficacy of platelet-rich plasma (PRP) combined with arthroscopic meniscal plasty on meniscus injury of the knee joint in the elderly.

METHODS

Fifty-six elderly patients with meniscus injuries were evaluated, including 28 patients who underwent arthroscopic meniscal repair and 28 patients who underwent arthroscopic meniscus repair combined with PRP injection. Primary outcomes included visual analogue scale (VAS), Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC), Lysholm score, Lequesne index, Range of motion (ROM), and secondary outcomes included bone gla-protein (BGP), insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1), and matrix metalloproteinase-1 (MMP-1). The primary and secondary measurement outcomes were assessed for each patient before and after the 12 weeks of treatment.

RESULTS

The VAS, WOMAC, Lysholm, Lequesne, and ROM were more improved in the PRP group compared to the control group (all P < 0.05). BGP, IGF-1, and MMP-1 were more reduced in the PRP group compared to the control group (all P < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

The treatments of PRP combined with arthroscopic meniscal plasty can significantly improve the pain, function, and physiologicindicators in elderly patients.