Effects of plasma rich in growth factors (PRGF) on biomechanical properties of Achilles tendon repair

Acellular fish skin grafts in the treatment of diabetic wounds: Advantages and clinical translation

Diabetic wounds cannot undergo normal wound healing due to changes in the concentration of hyperglycemia in the body and soon evolve into chronic wounds causing amputation or even death of patients. Diabetic wounds directly affect the quality of patients and social medical management; thus researchers started to focus on skin transplantation technology. The acellular fish skin grafts (AFSGs) are derived from wild fish, which avoids the influence of human immune function and the spread of the virus through low-cost decellularization. AFSGs contain a large amount of collagen and omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids and they have an amazing effect on wound regeneration. However, after our search in major databases, we found that there were few research trials in this field, and only one was clinically approved. Therefore, we summarized the advantages of AFSGs and listed the problems faced in clinical use. The purpose of this paper is to enable researchers to better carry out original experiments at various stages.

Platelet-Rich Plasma in acute Achilles tendon ruptures: A systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) is known to exert multi-directional biological effects favouring tendon healing. However, conclusions drawn by numerous studies on its clinical efficacy for acute Achilles tendon rupture are limited. We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis to investigate this and to compare to those without PRP treatment.

METHODS

The Cochrane Controlled Register of Trials, Pubmed, Medline and Embase were used and assessed according to the PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) criteria with the following search terms: ('plasma' OR 'platelet-rich' OR 'platelet-rich plasma' or 'PRP') AND ('Achilles tendon rupture/tear' OR 'calcaneal tendon rupture/tear' OR 'tendo calcaneus rupture/tear'). Data pertaining to biomechanical outcomes (heel endurance test, isokinetic strength, calf-circumference and range of motion), patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) and incidence of re-ruptures were extracted. Meta-analysis was performed for same outcomes measured in at least three studies. Pooled outcome data were analysed by random- and fixed-effects models.

RESULTS

After abstract and full-text screening, 6 studies were included. In total there were 510 patients of which 256 had local PRP injection and 254 without. The average age was 41.6 years, mean time from injury to treatment 5.9 days and mean follow-up at 61 weeks. Biomechanically, there was similar heel endurance, isokinetic strength, calf circumference and range of motion between both groups. In general, there were no differences in patient reported outcomes from all scoring systems used in the studies. Both groups returned to their pre-injured level at a similar time and there were no differences on the incidence of re-rupture (OR 1.13, 95% CI, 0.46-2.80, p = 0.79).

CONCLUSION

PRP injections for acute Achilles tendon ruptures do not improve medium to long-term biomechanical and clinical outcomes. However, future studies incorporating the ideal application and biological composition of PRP are required to investigate its true clinical efficacy.

Interest of platelet rich plasma in Achilles tendon rupture management: a systematic review

OBJECTIVES

Acute Achilles tendon rupture (ATR) is a disabling sport-related injury. Its management involves conservative treatment with early weight-bearing or surgical treatment. Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) has raised interest as an adjuvant for treatment, given its properties on tendon repair and its anti-inflammatory effect. We aimed to assess clinical impact of PRP use in surgical or non-surgical treatment of acute ATR: range of motion, muscle strength, function, return to sport and adverse events.

METHOD

A systematic literature research was performed using PubMed, ScienceDirect, and Google Scholar databases to collect studies reporting clinical outcomes after acute ATR treated with PRP.

RESULTS

Eight studies were eligible and included 543 acute ATR. Four were randomized comparative studies. A total of 128 patients were treated surgically and 415 were treated conservatively, 271 received PRP injection. Five studies described the type of PRP used, which was variable. Only one study including 12 patients found significant outcomes in favor of the PRP group, with a 4-week earlier recovery of a normal range of motion and a 7-week earlier return to running. No difference in clinical or morphological evaluations, strength measurement, and functional outcomes was found in other studies both at short and long-term. PRP did not seem to modify the frequency of adverse events.

CONCLUSIONS

Data are not clearly in favor of a significant effect of the PRP use for treatment of ATR. There might be a slight effect on evolution during the first months. Its interest should be assessed in future studies with strong methodology.

Incidence of Patellar Desmopathy in the Modified Maquet Technique with and without PRGF

Patellar desmopathy can lead to desmitis, discomfort, and lameness. In the traditional MMT, a pin is used for the fixation of the fragment of the osteotomized tibia to the implant and the tibial diaphysis; this pin needs to be placed below the insertion of the patellar ligament to avoid damaging it. Considering the differences between TTA and MMT, the authors consider it important to determine the incidence of patellar desmopathy in the MMT. This is a prospective study that enrolled 53 owned dogs that underwent MMT and were followed up by a complete examination and radiograph controls to establish the patellar tendon thickening and the presence of clinical desmitis. The PRGF were administrated to 29 of those patients, in order to determine if PRGF’s action could decrease ligament desmitis. The conclusions in this study were that the desmopathy produced by the MMT is similar to that generated by the TTA if the pin is carefully placed; in addition, the PRGF did not decrease the inflammation and the thickening of the ligament.

Platelet-Rich Plasma Applications for Achilles Tendon Repair: A Bridge between Biology and Surgery

Achilles tendon ruptures are very common tendon ruptures and their incidence is increasing in modern society, resulting in work incapacity and months off sport, which generate a need for accelerated and successful therapeutic repair strategy. Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) is emerging as adjuvant human blood-derived constructs to assist Achilles tendon rupture treatment. However, myriad PRP preparation methods in conjunction with poor standardization in the modalities of their applications impinge on the consistent effectiveness of clinical and structural outcomes regarding their therapeutic efficacy. The purpose of this review is to provide some light on the application of PRP for Achilles tendon ruptures. PRP has many characteristics that make it an attractive treatment. Elements such as the inclusion of leukocytes and erythrocytes within PRP, the absence of activation and activation ex vivo or in vivo, the modality of application, and the adjustment of PRP pH can influence the biology of the applied product and result in misleading therapeutic conclusions. The weakest points in demonstrating their consistent effectiveness are primarily the result of myriad PRP preparation methods and the poor standardization of modalities for their application. Selecting the right biological scaffold and applying it correctly to restitutio ad integrum of ruptured Achilles tendons remains a daunting and complex task.

Investigation of the biomechanical and histopathological effects of autologous conditioned serum on healing of Achilles tendon

Objective

The aim of this study to evaluate the effects of autologous conditioned serum (ACS) on the healing of transected rat Achilles tendons via the assessment of biomechanical and histological parameters.

Methods

The study was conducted on 45 male Sprague–Dawley rats. Five rats were used as donors for ACS preparation. Animals were randomly assigned to the experimental or control group. In both groups, the Achilles tendon was cut transversally and then sutured. In the placebo control and ACS-treated groups, saline or ACS, respectively, was injected into the repair zone three times after surgery. Ten rats from each group (ACS group, n = 20; control group, n = 20) were euthanized at days 15 and 30 after surgery for histopathological (n = 5) and biomechanical (n = 5) testing. The histopathological findings were interpreted using the Bonar and Movin scales. Tendon remodelling was evaluated via the immunohistochemical staining of collagen type 3. Biomechanical effects were assessed by tensile testing.

Results

The Bonar and Movin scale scores were significantly better in the ACS-treated group on both day 15 (p = 0.003 and p = 0.003, respectively) and day 30 (p = 0.005 and p = 0.004, respectively). The immunohistochemical density of collagen type 3 was significantly lower in the ACS-treated group on day 30 (p = 0.018). The type 1/3 collagen ratios of the groups were similar on days 15 and 30, as determined by Sirius Red staining (p = 0.910 and p = 0.133, respectively). In the biomechanical assessment results, the ACS-treated group's maximum load to failure values were significantly higher on day 15 (p = 0.049).

Conclusion

Injection of ACS had a positive effect on the histopathological healing of rat Achilles tendons on days 15 and 30 and on biomechanical healing on day 15. ACS treatment contributed to lowering the collagen type 3 density by day 30. According to our study, ACS may be favourable for the treatment of human Achilles tendon injuries and tendinopathies.