Abstract
Background:
The effect of platelet-rich plasma (PRP) augmentation for meniscal repair (MR) is unclear, as current evidence is limited to small, mostly nonrandomized studies.
Purpose:
To systematically review the literature to evaluate the efficacy and safety of MR with PRP augmentation.
Study Design:
Systematic review; Level of evidence, 3.
Methods:
A systematic review was performed by searching PubMed, the Cochrane Library, and Embase to identify studies (level of evidence 1-3) that compared the clinical efficacy of MR performed with versus without PRP. The search phrase used was platelet-rich plasma meniscus. Patients were assessed based on the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC), the visual analog scale (VAS) for pain, the Lysholm score, the Knee injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS), the subjective International Knee Documentation Committee (IKDC) score, and treatment failure.
Results:
We identified 6 studies (2 studies with level 1 evidence; 4 studies with level 3 evidence) that met inclusion criteria, for a total of 309 patients undergoing MR with PRP (mean age, 31.9 years) and 445 patients without PRP augmentation (mean age, 29.6 years). The mean follow-up was 32.8 months (range, 12-72 months). Overall, 17.0% of PRP patients experienced MR failure compared with 22.1% of non-PRP patients. No differences in VAS, Lysholm, or subjective IKDC scores were found between groups except in 1 study, in which postoperative subjective IKDC scores were significantly better in the PRP group (P < .01). Another study found significantly better postoperative WOMAC scores among PRP patients, and 2 studies found significantly better KOOS subscores among PRP patients.
Conclusion:
There are a limited number of high-quality studies comparing outcomes and healing rates between patients undergoing MR with versus without PRP augmentation. Based on the available evidence, patients undergoing MR with PRP augmentation experience similar clinical outcomes at midterm follow-up when compared with conventional MR, and additional studies are needed to determine the efficacy of MR augmented with PRP.
Keywords: meniscal repair, platelet-rich plasma, augmentation, knee
Meniscal tears are among the most common injuries in orthopaedics and are a leading cause of decreased knee function, because the menisci are responsible for providing joint stability and shock absorption and help to prevent articular cartilage degeneration.25 It has been estimated that nearly 4 million arthroscopies are performed worldwide each year for meniscal conditions.18 The loss of meniscal tissue due to injury, surgery, or degenerative processes can substantially alter the biomechanics of the knee and cause considerable limitations in load distribution and joint lubrication.3,41,46,53 One treatment option for the injured meniscus is partial or total meniscectomy, although multiple studies have demonstrated that decreased meniscal tissue leads to increased contact stresses in the knee.4,8,29 As a result, there has been a recent shift to limit meniscectomies and perform meniscal repair (MR) whenever indicated, with more than an 11% increase in the incidence of MR in recent years.1
Recent efforts to enhance the success of MR during surgery include the addition of platelet-rich plasma (PRP).11,29,31,35 PRP has been widely used to treat tendon-, muscle-, ligament-, and cartilage-based conditions,28,39 although its effect in the context of meniscal injuries is not well documented. Despite this, the clinical efficacy of MR with PRP augmentation has recently gained significant attention as a viable treatment option in the orthopaedic sports medicine community,21,33,42,47 even though its clinical indications remain unclear.9,52 The purpose of this study was to systematically review the literature in an effort to compare the efficacy of MR with and without PRP. We hypothesized that there would be no difference in clinical outcomes between patients undergoing MR with versus without PRP augmentation.
Methods
This systematic review was conducted according to PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) guidelines through use of a PRISMA checklist. Two independent reviewers (J.W.B., J.H.S.) searched the PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane Library databases up to October 26, 2019. The electronic search phrase used was platelet-rich plasma meniscus. A total of 190 studies were reviewed by title and/or abstract to determine study eligibility based on inclusion criteria. In cases of disagreement, a third reviewer (S.G.T.) made the final decision. The inclusion criteria were nonoverlapping, comparative studies that assessed the use of PRP augmentation for MR, studies that were published in English, and studies with a minimum 12-month follow-up. Exclusion criteria included nonhuman studies, noncomparative studies, studies that focused on procedures other than MR, and studies unrelated to the knee.
We identified 6 studies15,19,24,36,38,50 that met inclusion criteria (Figure 1). Data extraction from each study was performed independently and then reviewed by a second author (J.W.B.). No funding or third party was needed to obtain any of the collected data. Risk of bias for 2 randomized studies36,38 was assessed according to the Cochrane Collaboration risk of bias tool,27 which incorporates an assessment of randomization, blinding, completeness of outcome data, selection of outcomes reported, and other sources of bias. For the remaining 4 nonrandomized studies,15,19,24,50 risk of bias was assessed according to the Risk Of Bias In Non-Randomized Studies–of Interventions (ROBINS-I) risk of bias tool,54 which incorporates an assessment of bias due to confounding, selection of participants, deviations from intended interventions, completeness of outcome data, selection of outcomes reported, and other sources of bias. A Cohen kappa score was calculated to determine the level of intraobserver agreement between reviewers. A score of less than 0.20 indicates poor agreement; 0.21-0.40, fair agreement; 0.41-0.60, moderate agreement; 0.61-0.80, good agreement; 0.81-1.00, very good agreement.44
Figure 1.
PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) flow diagram.
Reporting Outcomes
Outcomes assessed included patient-reported outcomes (PROs) and reintervention. PRO measures included the visual analog scale (VAS) for pain, the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC),5 the subjective International Knee Documentation Committee (IKDC) score,26 the Knee injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS),51 and the Lysholm score.43 We noted that 3 studies15,36,38 used the VAS, 2 studies36,38 used the WOMAC score, 3 studies24,36,38 used the subjective IKDC score, 3 studies36,38,50 used the KOOS scale, and 2 studies15,24 used the Lysholm score. All 6 studies reported on treatment failure rates.
Study Methodologic Assessment
The Modified Coleman Methodology Score (MCMS)13 was used to evaluate study methodologic quality. The MCMS has a scaled potential score ranging from 0 to 100. Scores of 85-100 are excellent, 70-84 are good, 55-69 are fair, and less than 55 are poor.
Statistical Analysis
A weighted average was calculated for numerical demographics (age, follow-up). Weighted averages were calculated for VAS, Lysholm, WOMAC, KOOS, and subjective IKDC scores.
Results
The 6 studies that met inclusion criteria included a total of 754 patients (PRP, n = 309; non-PRP, n = 445). The mean patient age at the time of surgery was 31.9 and 29.6 years in the PRP and non-PRP groups, respectively, and the mean follow-up time overall was 32.8 months (range, 12-72 months). The overall percentage of males was 62.8% and 64.4% in the PRP and non-PRP groups, respectively (Table 1).
Table 1.
Studies Includeda
| No. of Patients | Patient Age, y | Patient Sex, % Male | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lead Author (Year) | Level of Evidence | PRP | Non-PRP | PRP | Non-PRP | PRP | Non-PRP | Follow-up, mo |
| Dai (2019)15 | 3 | 14 | 15 | 32.4 (13-52) | 30.3 (14-50) | 42.9 | 33.3 | 20.6 (12-27) |
| Everhart (2019)19 | 3 | 203 | 347 | 30.0 (NR) | 28.1 (NR) | 63.5 | 63.1 | 36.0 (NR) |
| Griffin (2015)24 | 3 | 15 | 20 | 26.0 (19-46) | 35.0 (19-68) | 73.3 | 85.0 | 48.0 (24-72) |
| Kaminski (2018)36 | 1 | 18 | 17 | 30.0 (18-43) | 26.0 (19-44) | 78.9 | 83.3 | 42.0 (45-69) |
| Kaminski (2019)38 | 1 | 42 | 29 | 44.0 (18-67) | 46.0 (27-68) | 52.4 | 63.3 | 12.0 (12-36) |
| Pujol (2015)50 | 3 | 17 | 17 | 32.3 (13-40) | 28.3 (13-40) | 64.7 | 76.5 | 32.2 (24-40) |
| Total | — | 309 | 445 | 31.9 | 29.6 | 62.8 | 64.4 | 32.8 |
aPatient age and follow-up are reported as mean (range), and the “Total” row is reported as a weighted mean. NR, not reported; PRP, platelet-rich plasma.
PRP Preparation
All patients underwent harvest of peripheral venous blood, which was then centrifuged to isolate red blood cells from the upper plasma layer. The upper plasma layer was carefully collected through use of a serological pipette and placed into a new centrifuge tube or set aside for injection. In 3 studies,15,36,38 the remaining upper plasma layer was centrifuged again to separate platelet-poor plasma from PRP. The contents were validated by use of an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and a blood analyzer. In all studies,15,19,24,36,38,50 the investigators activated the PRP sample by adding calcium chloride through low-level ultraviolet irradiation, and then a 4- to 8-mL sample was used for intrameniscal injection at the repair site.
PRP Leukocyte Content
There were 5 studies15,19,24,36,38 that used leukocyte-rich PRP; 1 study50 did not report whether leukocyte-rich or leukocyte-poor PRP was used.
Surgical Technique
In 2 studies,15,24 the investigators described using an inside-out technique for MR; 1 study36 described using either an all-inside technique or, in the case of meniscal body repairs, an outside-in technique; 1 study19 described using either an all-inside or inside-out technique; and 2 studies38,50 did not describe which technique was used for MR. The MR was performed arthroscopically in all studies.15,19,24,36,38,50 Once the tear pattern was confirmed, the torn margin of the meniscus and the adjacent synovium were abraded with a rasp and/or shaver to improve vascular supply to the lesion. For inside-out lateral MRs, a posterolateral approach was used, in which an incision was made parallel and just posterior to the lateral collateral ligament. For medial meniscal tears, a posteromedial approach was used, in which an incision was made from the adductor tubercle to the posterior aspect of the tibial plateau. Regardless of tear location, a meniscal retractor was then positioned to aid in the retrieval of sutures and to help protect the neurovascular structures posterior to the joint. A self-delivery gun fitted with a cannula was used to pass double-loaded nonabsorbable sutures into the meniscus, and 4 to 12 sutures were placed 3 to 6 mm apart in a vertical fashion to allow for greater capture of the strong circumferential fibers of the meniscus.
All studies15,19,24,36,38,50 described the process of PRP augmentation similarly. After repair, the tear site was injected with 4 to 8 mL of PRP under arthroscopic visualization. The previously placed meniscal sutures were loosened to increase the contact area between PRP and the lesion. After the PRP gel clot was formed on the lesion, the knee was taken to 90° of flexion, and the sutures were fastened down and tied.
Tear Type
Investigators in 3 studies19,24,50 did not limit patients based on type of meniscal tear. Further, 1 study15 included only patients with discoid lateral tears, another study36 included only patients with vertical bucket-handle tears, and a third study38 included only patients with horizontal tears.
Modified Coleman Methodology Score
Table 2 shows the MCMS scores from the 6 included studies; 2 studies36,38 received good scores and 4 studies15,19,24,50 received fair scores.
Table 2.
Modified Coleman Methodology Score (MCMS)
Demographics
The authors of 1 study24 reported a significant difference in age between the PRP and non-PRP groups, in which PRP patients were significantly younger (P < .05), and the same study reported a significant difference in body mass index (BMI) between groups, in which PRP patients had a significantly lower BMI (P < .05). All studies reported no differences in sex, 5 studies15,19,36,38,50 reported no differences in age, and 3 studies19,38,50 reported no significant differences in BMI between groups. All 3 studies19,38,50 that analyzed tear location found no significant difference in the location of the meniscal tear (medial vs lateral) between groups, and 2 studies36,50 found no significant difference in the time interval from injury to operation between groups. One study38 reported no significant difference in osteoarthritis grades between groups using the Kellgren-Lawrence scale. There were 5 studies15,24,36,38,50 that excluded patients who were undergoing surgery for concurrent ligament injuries, and 4 studies15,36,38,50 excluded patients with concomitant chondral injuries.
Methodologic Quality Assessment
Figure 2 presents the results of the methodologic quality assessment of the 4 nonrandomized studies15,19,24,50 using the ROBINS-I risk of bias tool. All 4 studies showed a moderate risk of bias due to confounding, as there were no prognostic variables that predicted baseline intervention and no patients who switched between interventions during the study period. No studies excluded eligible patients or used variable follow-up times based on intervention (low risk of bias), no studies deviated from the intended intervention (low risk of bias), and all studies clearly classified treatment type (low risk of bias). We noted that 2 studies15,50 using blinded outcome assessors showed no systematic differences in the care provided between treatment groups (low risk of bias), whereas 2 studies19,24 used nonblinded but identical postoperative protocols (moderate risk of bias). No studies showed bias due to missing data (low risk of bias). Further, 2 studies15,50 demonstrated low risk of bias in measurement of outcomes through use of blinded outcome assessors, whereas 2 studies19,24 used physicians not blinded to treatment group (serious risk of bias). Finally, no studies showed bias due to selective reporting (low risk of bias). A Cohen kappa score of 0.84 reflected very good agreement between reviewers.
Figure 2.
Risk of bias graph. Risk of bias is presented as a percentage across all included studies (green, low risk; yellow, unclear; red, high risk).
The remaining 2 randomized studies36,38 were assessed for methodologic quality by use of the Cochrane Collaboration risk of bias tool. Sequence generation and allocation were adequately reported by both studies (low risk of bias), and both studies were deemed to be at low risk for detection bias because of the blinding of the outcome assessor. Patients in both studies were blinded to their intervention group (low risk of bias). Neither study reported significant loss of follow-up (low risk of bias), and neither study was deemed to be at risk of bias for selective reporting or incomplete outcome data (low risk of bias).
Treatment Failure
In 4 studies,15,19,24,50 the investigators defined treatment failure as the need for a reoperation. In 2 studies,36,38 treatment failure was defined as no visible healing during a second-look arthroscopy or less than 50% healing of the tear width versus an unstable repair on magnetic resonance imaging review. Overall, 20.0% of patients experienced treatment failure, including 17.0% in the PRP group and 22.1% in the non-PRP group (Table 3). When specifically evaluating meniscal tears in the red-white zone, 1 study36 found that at the 18-week follow-up, 3 of 18 patients (16.7%) in the PRP group experienced treatment failure compared with 9 of 17 patients (52.9%) in the non-PRP group (P = .02). In 5 studies,15,19,24,38,50 treatment failures were not stratified by meniscal tear zone.
Table 3.
Treatment Failure Ratesa
| Lead Author (Year) | PRP | Non-PRP | Total | P |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dai (2019)15 | 1/14 (7.1) | 2/15 (13.3) | 3/29 (10.3) | .58 |
| Everhart (2019)19 | 24/164 (14.6) | 50/294 (17.0) | 74/458 (16.2) | .51 |
| Griffin (2015)24 | 4/15 (26.7) | 5/20 (25.0) | 9/35 (25.7) | .91 |
| Kaminski (2018)36 | 3/18 (15.8) | 9/17 (50.0) | 12/35 (32.4) | .02 |
| Kaminski (2019)38 | 13/42 (31.0) | 19/30 (63.3) | 32/72 (44.4) | .01 |
| Pujol (2015)50 | 1/17 (5.8) | 2/17 (11.8) | 3/34 (8.8) | .54 |
| Total | 46/270 (17.0) | 87/393 (22.1) | 133/663 (20.0) | — |
aFailures are reported as number of failures/total number of patients (%). PRP, platelet-rich plasma.
Patient-Reported Outcomes
The VAS score was used in 3 studies,15,36,38 none of which found significant differences in scores at latest follow-up between groups (Table 4). The Lysholm score was reported in 2 studies,15,24 neither of which found significant differences in scores at latest follow-up between groups (Table 5). The subjective IKDC score was used in 3 studies24,36,38; 1 study36 found significantly better scores at latest follow-up in the PRP group (P < .01) (Table 6). The authors of 2 studies36,38 reported using the WOMAC score. Of these, 1 study36 found significantly better scores at latest follow-up in the PRP group (P < .01) (Table 7). Finally, 3 studies36,38,50 reported using the KOOS. Of these, 1 study36 found significantly better scores in every KOOS subcategory in the PRP group (P < .05). Another study50 found significantly better scores in the Pain and Sport subcategories in the PRP group (P < .05) (Table 8).
Table 4.
Visual Analog Scale Scoresa
| PRP | Non-PRP | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lead Author (Year) | Preoperative | Postoperative | Preoperative | Postoperative | P Value |
| Dai (2019)15 | 4.1 ± 1.0 | 1.2 ± 1.0 | 3.4 ± 1.3 | 1.6 ± 1.1 | .32 |
| Kaminski (2018)36 | 6.2 ± 0.1 | 0.8 ± 0.1 | 5.1 ± 0.1 | 0.9 ± 0.1 | .15 |
| Kaminski (2019)38 | 5.4 ± 0.1 | 2.0 ± 0.1 | 4.4 ± 0.1 | 2.1 ± 0.1 | .39 |
| Total | 5.4 | 1.5 | 4.4 | 1.6 | — |
aScores are reported as a mean ± SD at latest follow-up. The “Total” row is reported as a weighted mean. The P values are based on a comparison of postoperative scores between groups. PRP, platelet-rich plasma.
Table 5.
Lysholm Scoresa
| PRP | Non-PRP | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lead Author (Year) | Preoperative | Postoperative | Preoperative | Postoperative | P Value |
| Dai (2019)15 | 53.3 ± 12.7 | 79.8 ± 9.6 | 55.0 ± 9.3 | 74.6 ± 11.6 | .31 |
| Griffin (2015)24 | NR | 66.0 ± 31.9 | NR | 89.0 ± 9.7 | .07 |
| Total | 53.3 | 72.7 | 55.0 | 82.8 | — |
aScores are reported as a mean ± SD (if available) at latest follow-up. The “Total” row is reported as a weighted mean. The P values are based on a comparison of postoperative scores between groups. NR, not reported; PRP, platelet-rich plasma.
Table 6.
Subjective International Knee Documentation Committee Scoresa
| PRP | Non-PRP | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lead Author (Year) | Preoperative | Postoperative | Preoperative | Postoperative | P Value |
| Griffin (2015)24 | NR | 69.0 ± 26.0 | NR | 76.0 ± 17.0 | .29 |
| Kaminski (2018)36 | 40.9 ± 0.9 | 97.6 ± 0.6 | 41.7 ± 0.8 | 84.8 ± 0.9 | <.01 |
| Kaminski (2019)38 | 51.2 ± 0.3 | 86.0 ± 0.5 | 54.9 ± 0.5 | 88.1 ± 0.9 | .36 |
| Total | 48.0 | 85.4 | 50.0 | 83.7 | — |
aScores are reported as a mean ± SD (if available) at latest follow-up. The “Total” row is reported as a weighted mean. The P values are based on a comparison of postoperative scores between groups. NR, not reported; PRP, platelet-rich plasma.
Table 7.
Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index Total Scorea
| PRP | Non-PRP | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lead Author (Year) | Preoperative | Postoperative | Preoperative | Postoperative | P Value |
| Kaminski (2018)36 | 32.3 ± 0.9 | 1.0 ± 0.1 | 41.7 ± 0.8 | 4.0 ± 0.3 | <.01 |
| Kaminski (2019)38 | 34.4 ± 0.4 | 9.7 ± 0.3 | 28.9 ± 0.6 | 7.5 ± 0.6 | .21 |
| Total | 33.7 | 7.0 | 33.7 | 6.2 | — |
aScores are reported as mean ± SD (if available) at latest follow-up. The “Total” row is reported as a weighted mean. PRP, platelet-rich plasma.
Table 8.
Knee injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS)a
| Lead Author (Year) | KOOS Subscales | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Symptoms | Pain | ADL | Sport | QOL | ||||||
| PRP | Non-PRP | PRP | Non-PRP | PRP | Non-PRP | PRP | Non-PRP | PRP | Non-PRP | |
| Kaminski (2018)36 | 96.2 ± 0.3b | 92.3 ± 0.5b | 96.1 ± 0.2b | 92.9 ± 0.4b | 98.2 ± 0.1b | 95.1 ± 0.4b | 89.4 ± 0.9b | 77.7 ± 1.3b | 80.9 ± 1.1b | 66.2 ± 1.2b |
| Kaminski (2019)38 | 92.0 ± 0.3 | 90.4 ± 0.6 | 87.2 ± 0.4 | 89.0 ± 0.6 | 89.4 ± 0.4 | 92.4 ± 0.6 | 69.5 ± 0.8 | 79.0 ± 1.1 | 67.1 ± 0.6 | 68.2 ± 1.1 |
| Pujol (2015)50 | 90.9 | 86.1 | 93.3b | 78.4b | 97.2 | 93.8 | 88.8b | 74.4b | 78.3 | 74.6 |
| Total | 92.8 | 89.8 | 90.7 | 87.3 | 93.2 | 93.5 | 78.6 | 77.4 | 72.9 | 69.3 |
aScores are reported as mean ± SD (if available) at latest follow-up. The “Total” row is reported as a weighted mean. ADL, Activities of Daily Living; PRP, platelet-rich plasma; QOL, Quality of Life.
bP < .05.
Discussion
This systematic review points to an overall lack of high-quality studies on the topic of MR with PRP augmentation. Of all clinical outcomes assessed in this systematic review, none demonstrated superiority in the non-PRP group. The existing evidence, although limited, suggests that patients undergoing MR with PRP augmentation may experience slightly improved clinical outcomes and healing rates when compared with conventional MR.
The prevalence of meniscal injuries continues to increase due to the increasing life expectancy and physical activity of the population.18 As a result, biologic augmentation techniques including PRP have gained significant interest as viable treatment options to enhance repair healing following MR. Due to limited evidence, the efficacy of PRP in the context of MR remains a topic of controversy. Multiple studies have attributed improved outcomes with PRP to its autologous makeup, high concentration of growth factors, and ability to promote angiogenesis and soft tissue healing,12,33,55 although many studies have demonstrated MR without biologic augmentation to be just as effective.15,22,24,48
In the current review, 2 studies36,38 found PRP patients to experience significantly decreased rates of treatment failure compared with non-PRP patients. Overall, there was a 5.1% decrease in the incidence of treatment failure for PRP patients compared with non-PRP patients. Additionally, all PROs that showed a significant difference between groups favored the PRP group.
The influence of PRP on joint homeostasis is multifaceted. Studies have shown that PRP can decrease catabolism while simultaneously increasing anabolic activity, and it has been previously demonstrated that catabolic activity in human meniscal tissue plays a significant role in the progression of osteoarthritis.10,40 Furthermore, increased production of type II collagen, matrix molecules, and prostaglandins has been observed in hyaline cartilage following treatment with PRP,17,49 and other processes such as chondral remodeling and soft tissue healing can be accelerated with the introduction of PRP to the injury site both in vivo and in vitro.32,34
When used to augment MR, PRP involves the modulation of the meniscal environment by introducing autologous blood products into the targeted tissue, which can lead to reduced inflammatory distress and promote chondrogenesis.6,15,20 By supplying the injury site with a wide range of growth factors such as platelet-derived growth factor, vascular endothelial growth factor, and transforming growth factor β1, PRP promotes chemotaxis, angiogenesis, and collagen matrix synthesis and can help provide a scaffold for migrating cells.2,23,34 Multiple studies have demonstrated the antinociceptive and cell proliferative properties of PRP to successfully increase extracellular matrix production and enhance meniscal tissue regeneration in vitro.7,32,33,45 Additionally, PRP has been shown to significantly increase meniscal cell viability and compression resistance through the elevated mRNA expression of various proteoglycans in several animal studies.14,30,33 This may explain the improved outcomes of PRP augmentation in some of the studies included in this review. Previous studies16,37 have compared the efficacy of isolated MR versus other biologic augmentation techniques, such as MR augmented with a bone marrow venting (BMV) procedure (ie, microfracture of the lateral intercondylar notch), and have demonstrated significantly improved meniscal healing rates and improved PROs in the BMV group at short-term and midterm follow-up, respectively.
The strengths of the current study include a comprehensive systematic review performed by 2 independent reviewers. This is also the first systematic review to evaluate the efficacy of PRP augmentation for MR. The limitations of this study should be noted. In particular, only 6 studies were included in this review, of which only 2 studies provided level 1 evidence. No additional search phrases were used other than what is described in the Methods section, and other than the 3 search engines used, no additional reference lists were searched to identify eligible studies. MR and PRP preparation techniques were not identical across all studies, making direct comparison difficult. One study did not report the PRP composition used, and not all studies used the same PROs, thereby preventing us from performing a meta-analysis. Finally, the included studies varied in the type of meniscal tears treated, the definition of treatment failure, patient distribution, and follow-up times.
Conclusion
A limited number of high-quality studies are available comparing outcomes and healing rates between patients undergoing MR with PRP augmentation versus without PRP augmentation. The available evidence indicates that patients undergoing MR with PRP augmentation experience similar clinical outcomes at midterm follow-up compared with conventional MR, and additional studies are needed to determine the efficacy of MR augmented with PRP.
Footnotes
Final revision submitted February 6, 2020; accepted February 19, 2020.
One or more of the authors has declared the following potential conflicts of interest or source of funding: S.G.T. has received educational support from Quest Medical. E.C.M. has received research support from Arthrex, Biomet, Breg, Mitek, Ossur, Smith & Nephew, and Stryker; consulting fees from Zimmer Biomet; and royalties from Elsevier and Zimmer Biomet. AOSSM checks author disclosures against the Open Payments Database (OPD). AOSSM has not conducted an independent investigation on the OPD and disclaims any liability or responsibility relating thereto.
References
- 1. Abrams GD, Frank RM, Gupta AK, Harris JD, McCormick FM, Cole BJ. Trends in meniscus repair and meniscectomy in the United States, 2005-2011. Am J Sports Med. 2013;41(10):2333–2339. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- 2. Anitua E, Sanchez M, Orive G, Andia I. The potential impact of the preparation rich in growth factors (PRGF) in different medical fields. Biomaterials. 2007;28(31):4551–4560. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- 3. Baker BE, Peckham AC, Pupparo F, Sanborn JC. Review of meniscal injury and associated sports. Am J Sports Med. 1985;13(1):1–4. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- 4. Baratz ME, Fu FH, Mengato R. Meniscal tears: the effect of meniscectomy and of repair on intraarticular contact areas and stress in the human knee: a preliminary report. Am J Sports Med. 1986;14(4):270–275. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- 5. Bellamy N, Wilson C, Hendrikz J. Population-based normative values for the Western Ontario and McMaster (WOMAC) Osteoarthritis Index: part I. Semin Arthritis Rheum. 2011;41(2):139–148. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- 6. Bennell KL, Hunter DJ, Paterson KL. Platelet-rich plasma for the management of hip and knee osteoarthritis. Curr Rheumatol Rep. 2017;19(5):24. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- 7. Bhargava MM, Attia ET, Murrell GA, Dolan MM, Warren RF, Hannafin JA. The effect of cytokines on the proliferation and migration of bovine meniscal cells. Am J Sports Med. 1999;27(5):636–643. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- 8. Bhatia S, LaPrade CM, Ellman MB, LaPrade RF. Meniscal root tears: significance, diagnosis, and treatment. Am J Sports Med. 2014;42(12):3016–3030. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- 9. Braun HJ, Waterslain AS, Dragoo JL. The use of PRP in ligament and meniscal healing. Sports Med Arthrosc Rev. 2013;21(4):206–212. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- 10. Brophy RH, Rai MF, Zhang Z, Torgomyan A, Sandell LJ. Molecular analysis of age and sex-related gene expression in meniscal tears with and without a concomitant anterior cruciate ligament tear. J Bone Joint Surg Am. 2012;94(5):385–393. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- 11. Choi NH, Kim TH, Son KM, Victoroff BN. Meniscal repair for radial tears of the midbody of the lateral meniscus. Am J Sports Med. 2010;38(12):2472–2476. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- 12. Cole BJ, Seroyer ST, Filardo G, Bajaj S, Fortier LA. Platelet-rich plasma: where are we now and where are we going? Sports Health. 2010;2(3):203–210. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- 13. Coleman BD, Khan HM, Maffulli N, Cook JL, Wark JD. Studies of surgical outcome after patellar tendinopathy: clinical significance of methodological deficiencies and guidelines for future studies. Victorian Institute of Sport Tendon Study Group. Scand J Med Sci Sports. 2000;10(1):2–11. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- 14. Cook JL, Kuroki K, Stroker AM, Monibi FA, Roller BL. Meniscal biology in health and disease. Connect Tissue Res. 2017;58(3-4):225–237. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- 15. Dai WL, Zhang H, Lin ZM, Shi ZJ, Wang J. Efficacy of platelet-rich plasma in arthroscopic repair for discoid lateral meniscus tears. BMC Musculoskelet Disord. 2019;20(1):113. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- 16. Dean CS, Chahla J, Matheny LM, Mitchell JJ, LaPrade RF. Outcomes after biologically augmented isolated meniscal repair with marrow venting are comparable with those after meniscal repair with concomitant anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction. Am J Sports Med. 2017;45(6):1341–1348. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- 17. Dhillon MS, Patel S, John R. PRP in OA knee—update, current confusions and future options. SICOT J. 2017;3:27. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- 18. Englund M, Guermazi A, Gale D, et al. Incidental meniscal findings on knee MRI in middle-aged and elderly persons. N Engl J Med. 2008;359(11):1108–1115. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- 19. Everhart JS, Cavendish PA, Eikenberry A, Magnussen RA, Kaeding CC, Flanigan DC. Platelet-rich plasma reduces failure risk for isolated meniscal repairs but provides no benefit for meniscal repairs with anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction. Am J Sports Med. 2019;47(8):1789–1796. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- 20. Filardo G, Kon E, Roffi A, Di Matteo B, Merli G, Marcacci M. Platelet-rich plasma: why intra-articular? A systematic review of pre-clinical studies and clinical evidence on PRP for joint degeneration. Knee Surg Sports Traumatol Arthrosc. 2015;23(9):2459–2474. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- 21. Foster TE, Puskas BL, Mandelbaum BR, Gerhardt MB, Rodeo SA. Platelet-rich plasma: from basic science to clinical applications. Am J Sports Med. 2009;37(11):2259–2272. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- 22. Freymann U, Degrassi L, Kruger JP, Metzlaff S, Endres M, Petersen W. Effect of serum and platelet-rich plasma on human early or advanced degenerative meniscus cells. Connect Tissue Res. 2017;58(6):509–519. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- 23. Freymann U, Mezlaff S, Kruger JP, et al. Effect of human serum and 2 different types of platelet concentrates on human meniscus cell migration, proliferation, and matrix formation. Arthroscopy. 2016;32(6):1106–1116. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- 24. Griffin J, Hadeed M, Werner B, Diduch D, Carson E, Miller M. Platelet-rich plasma in meniscal repair: does augmentation improve surgical outcomes? Clin Orthop Relat Res. 2015;473(5):1665–1672. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- 25. Hawker G, Guan J, Judge A, Dieppe P. Knee arthroscopy in England and Ontario: patterns of use, changes over time, and relationship to total knee replacement. J Bone Joint Surg Am. 2008;90(11):2337–2345. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- 26. Hefti F, Müller W, Jakob RP, Stäubli HU. Evaluation of knee ligament injuries with the IKDC form. Knee Surg Sports Traumatol Arthrosc. 1993;1(3-4):226–234. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- 27. Higgins JP, Green S. Cochrane Handbook for Systematic Reviews of Intervention. The Cochrane Collaboration; 2011. [Google Scholar]
- 28. Houck DA, Kraeutler MJ, Thornton LB, McCarty EC, Bravman JT. Treatment of lateral epicondylitis with autologous blood, platelet-rich plasma, or corticosteroid injections: a systematic review of overlapping meta-analyses. Orthop J Sports Med. 2019;7(3):2325967119831052. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- 29. Hutchinson ID, Moran CJ, Potter HG, Warren RF, Rodeo SA. Restoration of the meniscus: form and function. Am J Sports Med. 2014;42(4):987–998. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- 30. Hye-Rim L, Oog-Gin S, Se-Il P, et al. Platelet-rich plasma increases the levels of catabolic molecules and cellular dedifferentiation in the meniscus of a rabbit model. Int J Mol Sci. 2016;17(1):120. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- 31. Imade S, Kumahashi N, Kuwata S, Kadowaki M, Ito S, Uchio Y. Clinical outcomes of revision meniscal repair: a case series. Am J Sports Med. 2014;42(2):350–357. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- 32. Ionescu LC, Lee GC, Huang KL, Mauck RL. Growth factor supplementation improves native and engineered meniscus repair in vitro. Acta Biomater. 2012;8(10):3687–3694. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- 33. Ishida K, Kuroda R, Miwa W, et al. The regenerative effects of platelet-rich plasma on meniscal cells in vitro and its in vivo application with biodegradable gelatin hydrogel. Tissue Eng. 2007;13(5):1003–1012. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- 34. Jain NK, Gulati M. Platelet-rich plasma: a healing virtuoso. Blood Res. 2016;51(1):3–5. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- 35. Johnson D, Weiss B. Meniscal repair using the inside-out suture technique. Sports Med Arthrosc Rev. 2012;20(2):68–76. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- 36. Kaminski R, Kulinski K, Kozar-Kaminska K, et al. A prospective, randomized, double-blind, parallel-group, placebo-controlled study evaluating meniscal healing, clinical outcomes, and safety in patients undergoing meniscal repair of unstable, complete vertical meniscal tears (bucket handle) augmented with platelet-rich plasma. Biomed Res Int. 2018;2018:9315815. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- 37. Kaminski R, Kulinski K, Kozar-Kaminska K, Wasko MK, Langner M, Pomianowski S. Repair augmentation of unstable, complete vertical meniscal tears with bone marrow venting procedure: a prospective, randomized, double-blind, parallel-group, placebo-controlled study. Arthroscopy. 2019;35(5):1500–1508. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- 38. Kaminski R, Maksymowicz-Wleklik M, Kulinski K, Kozar-Kaminska K, Dabrowska-Thing A, Pomianowski S. Short-term outcomes of percutaneous trephination with a platelet rich plasma intrameniscal injection for the repair of degenerative meniscal lesions: a prospective, randomized, double-blind, parallel-group, placebo-controlled study. Int J Mol Sci. 2019;20(4):856. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- 39. Kraeutler MJ, Chahla J, LaPrade RF, Pascual-Garrido C. Biologic options for articular cartilage wear (platelet-rich plasma, stem cells, bone marrow aspirate concentrate). Clin Sports Med. 2017;36(3):457–468. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- 40. Laudy AB, Bakker EW, Rekers M, Moen MH. Efficiency of platelet-rich plasma injections in osteoarthritis of the knee: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Br J Sports Med. 2015;49(10):657–672. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- 41. Lee SJ, Aadalen KJ, Malaviya P, et al. Tibiofemoral contact mechanisms after serial medial meniscectomies in the human cadaveric knee. Am J Sports Med. 2006;34(8):1334–1344. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- 42. Lopez-Vidriero E, Goulding KA, Simon DA, Sanchez M, Johnson DH. The use of platelet-rich plasma in arthroscopy and sports medicine: optimizing the healing environment. Arthroscopy. 2010;26(2):269–278. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- 43. Lysholm J, Gillquist J. Evaluation of knee ligament surgery results with special emphasis on use of a scoring scale. Am J Sports Med. 1982;10(3):150–154. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- 44. McHugh ML. Interrater reliability: the kappa statistic. Biochem Med (Zagreb). 2012;22(3):276–282. [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- 45. McNulty AL, Guilak F. Integrative repair of the meniscus: lessons from in vitro studies. Biorheology. 2008;45(3-4):487–500. [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- 46. Nepple JJ, Dunn WR, Wright RW. Meniscal repair outcomes at greater than five years: a systematic literature review and meta-analysis. J Bone Joint Surg Am. 2012;94(24):2222–2227. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- 47. Nourissat G, Mainard D, Kelberine F. Current concept for the use of PRP in arthroscopic surgery. Orthop Traumatol Surg Res. 2013;99(suppl 8):S407–S410. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- 48. Noyes FR, Barber-Westin SD. Repair of complex and avascular meniscal tears and meniscal transplantation. J Bone Joint Surg Am. 2010;92(4):1012–1029. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- 49. Pereira RC, Scaranari M, Benelli R, et al. Dual effect of platelet lysate on human articular cartilage: a maintenance of chondrogenic potential and a transient proinflammatory activity followed by an inflammation resolution. Tissue Eng Part A. 2013;19(11-12):1476–1488. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- 50. Pujol N, Salle De Chou E, Boisrenoult P, Beaufils P. Platelet-rich plasma for open meniscal repair in young adults: any benefit? Knee Surg Sports Traumatol Arthrosc. 2015;23(1):51–58. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- 51. Roos EM, Roos HP, Lohmander LS, Ekhahl C, Beynnon BD. Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS)—development of a self-administered outcome measure. J Orthop Sports Phys Ther. 1998;28(2):88–96. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- 52. Scotti C, Hirschmann MT, Antinolfi P, Martin I, Peretti GM. Meniscus repair and regeneration: review on current methods and research potential. Eur Cell Mater. 2013;26:150–170. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- 53. Smith JH, Houck DA, Kraeutler MJ, McCarty EC, Frank RM, Vidal AF. “Doctor, what happens after my meniscectomy?” J Bone Joint Surg Am. 2019;101(21):1965–1973. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- 54. Sterne JA, Hernan MA, Reeves BC, et al. ROBINS-I: a tool for assessing risk of bias in non-randomised studies of interventions. BMJ. 2016;355:i4919. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- 55. Taylor SA, Rodeo SA. Augmentation techniques for isolated meniscal tears. Curr Rev Musculoskelet Med. 2013;6(2):95–101. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]


