Evaluating the efficacy of precise platelet-rich plasma injection in grade II meniscus tears.

OBJECTIVES

This study evaluated the efficacy of precise platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injection, guided by arthroscopy, in patients with grade II meniscus tears.

METHODS

The study protocol was reviewed and approved by the Institutional Review Board (IRB) of AJA University of Medical Sciences (Code: IR.AJAUMS.REC.1399.258). This study has also been approved by Iranian Registry of Clinical Trials (IRCT) with the code of: IRCT20200217046523N18. In this study, 90 patients with grade II meniscus tears, randomly assigning them to either a PRP injection group (n=45) or a conservative treatment control group (n=45) were enrolled. All patients included in the study had anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tears and underwent arthroscopic ACL reconstruction. PRP was prepared using a standardized protocol, and injection was performed under arthroscopic guidance using a specialized cannulated loop navigator. Outcomes were assessed using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) evaluation at baseline, 6, and 12 months post-intervention, and clinical evaluations at the same time points.

RESULTS

While the PRP group showed a trend towards improved meniscus tear healing compared to the control group at 6 months (P=0.0552), this difference was not statistically significant at either 6 or 12 months. Similarly, clinical scores showed slight improvements in the PRP group over time, but these differences were not statistically significant compared to baseline or the control group.

CONCLUSION

This study did not demonstrate statistically significant superior outcomes with precise arthroscopically-guided PRP injection as a standalone treatment for grade II meniscus tears compared to conservative management at 6 and 12-month follow-up. Further research with larger sample sizes and longer follow-up periods is needed to definitively assess the role of PRP in the management of grade II meniscus tears.