Clinical Indications and Techniques for the Use of Platelet-Rich Plasma in the Shoulder

Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) has recently been a topic of significant interest in the orthopedic community. In addition to the numerous basic science studies regarding the in vitro effects of PRP, there is more literature regarding the use of PRP in the clinical setting. PRP is overall very safe and carries minimal risk for the patient, making it appealing even if there is a small improvement in the final outcome. There appears to be significant interest in using it in the shoulder, particularly in conjunction with rotator cuff repair. We briefly outline the basics of PRP and discuss a few potential operative and nonoperative indications, such as rotator cuff tendinitis, biceps tendinitis, rotator cuff tears, and superior labrum anterior-posterior lesions.