Ankle and Foot Injury
Platelet-rich plasma and acute Achilles tendon rupture
Gao Chao, Zhang Hang, Chen Kaiwen, Cheng Yu, Zhang Hongtao
Published 2020-01-15
Cite as Chin J Orthop Trauma, 2020,22(01): 38-44. DOI: 10.3760/cma.j.issn.1671-7600.2020.01.007
Abstract
ObjectiveTo study the clinical efficacy of platelet-rich plasma (PRP) in the treatment of acute Achilles tendon rupture.
MethodsA retrospective study was performed of the 21 patients who had been treated for acute Achilles tendon rupture at Department of Orthopaedics, The First Affiliated Hospital to Soochow University from January 2018 to January 2019. Of them, 15 were treated by modified Kessler suture combined with PRP injection (PRP group) and 6 by simple modified Kessler suture (control group). The 2 groups were compared in terms of plantar flexion, dorsal expansion, visual analogue scale (VAS), Victorian Institute of Sport Assessment (VISA), and ankle-hindfoot score of American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS) at 3, 6, and 9 months postoperation.
ResultsThe 2 groups were comparable due to insignificant differences between them in the preoperative general data (P>0.05). All patients were followed up for 9 to 12 months (mean, 11.3 months). At 3, 6, and 9 months postoperation, the degrees of plantar flexion (33.5°±1.8°, 38.1°±1.2° and 41.6°±1.6°) and dorsal expansion (10.3°, 16.5° and 21.5°) in the PRP group were all significantly larger than those in the control group (26.9°±2.0°, 31.5°±1.6° and 35.6°±1.4°; 5.3°, 12.7°±0.6° and 18.2°), and the VISA scores (41.2±6.5, 78.7±10.4 and 91.0±4.1) and the AOFAS scores (75.5±5.4, 88.6±5.2 and 95.2±3.5) in the PRP group were all significantly higher than those in the control group (29.8±2.5, 68.0±3.5 and 84.5±2.1; 66.8±4.8, 82.8±3.6 and 90.7±1.1) (all P<0.05). At 3 and 6 months postoperation, the VAS scores in the PRP group (1.7±0.9 and 1.3±0.4) were significantly lower than those in the control group (3.0±0.8 and 2.2±0.7) (all P<0.05).
ConclusionAs PRP can release a high concentration of growth factors to promote recovery of Achilles tendon rupture and accelerate recovery of foot and ankle function, it can be considered a safe, practical and reliable treatment to use modified Kessler suture plus PRP injection.
Key words:
Achilles tendon; Platelet-rich plasma; Wounds and injuries; Function recovery
Contributor Information
Gao Chao
Department of Orthopaedics, The First Affiliated Hospital to Soochow University, Suzhou 215000, China (Gao Chao is working at Department of Orthopedics, Ningbo NO.6 Hospital, Nibo 315040, China)
Zhang Hang
Institute of Orthopaedics, Soochow University, Suzhou 215006, China
Chen Kaiwen
Department of Orthopaedics, The First Affiliated Hospital to Soochow University, Suzhou 215000, China
Cheng Yu
Department of Orthopaedics, The First Affiliated Hospital to Soochow University, Suzhou 215000, China
Zhang Hongtao
Department of Orthopaedics, The First Affiliated Hospital to Soochow University, Suzhou 215000, China
