Platelet-Rich Plasma in Muscle and Tendon Healing

Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) products represent advanced regenerative therapies for acute and chronic muscle and for tendon injuries because they can exploit the regenerative capabilities of the musculoskeletal system. PRP injections are used in clinical practice, but there is a need to evaluate the claims made about PRP therapies. Herein, we review current published clinical studies and focus on PRP formulations and application procedures. This article also describes the authors' clinical experience with PRP therapy in muscle and tendon conditions during the past decade. Treatment effects and the primary conclusions of clinical studies may be affected by procedures of PRP administration, and estimates of PRP treatment effect may deviate from its true value. To better define the conditions of clinical trials, we need to know more about the differences not only between PRP formulations but also among technical procedures in surgery and injection protocols, including applied volumes, target areas to treat, treatment schedules, and patient selection criteria.