Table 5.

Summary of clinical studies of platelet-rich plasma for treatment of focal cartilage defects

Patient number (age/range)	Defect position	Lesion size or grade	Innervation	Follow-up (months)	Outcome	Reference
1 (12 years)	Medial femoral condyle	>2 cm2 full-thickness avulsion	Reattachment of loose body and P-PRP injection	9	Complete reattachment and perfect continuity on MRI at 18 weeks; return to soccer training at 18 weeks and fully involved in competition at 9 months	[86]
5 (21–37 years)	Femoral condyle	3-12 cm2, full-thickness	Cultured autologous BMSC + platelet-rich fibrin glue	14.2	All patients symptoms improved; ICRS nearly normal in 2 patients; MRI showed complete defect fill in 3 patients	[87]
5 (24–45 years)	Patellar cartilage	1-3 cm2; ICRS grade III or IV	Col I/III scaffold with L-PRP gel	24	VAS pain scores were reduced and function improved, but intralesional osteophytes in 3 patients and irregular surface were found in all	[88]
20 (15–50 years)	Knee osteochondral lesions	ICRS grade III or IV	HA membrane + BM concentrate + P-PRP gel	29	IKDC improved from 32.9 to 90.4; KOOS from 47.1 to 93.3; Col II positive and Col I negative staining in entire biopsies in 2 patients	[89]
48 (15–50 years)	Talar osteochondral lesions	1.6-2.6 cm2; 3–5 mm deep	Collagen or HA membrane + BM concentrate + P-PRP gel	29	AOFAS improved from 64.4 to 91.4; 94% return to low-impact sports at 4.4 months; varying regeneration on MRI and histological exam	[90]
52 (25–65 years)	Femoral and tibial condyle	1.5-5 cm2; Outerbridge III or IV	PGA-HA scaffold immersed in P-PRP and BM stimulation	12	All KOOS subscores improved; nearly normal appearance in 10 during arthroscopy; hyaline-like cartilage formation in 5 biopsies	[91]

AOFAS, American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society; BM, bone marrow; BMSC, bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cell; Col, collagen; HA, hyaluronic acid; ICRS, International Cartilage Repair Society; IKDC, International Knee Documentation Committee; KOOS, Knee injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score; L-PRP, leukocyte- and platelet-rich plasma; MRI, magnetic resonance imaging; P-PRP, pure platelet-rich plasma; PGA, polyglycolic acid; VAS, visual analogue scale.