Platelet rich plasma and anterior cruciate ligament repair: A new frontier, or a short term adjunct.

Abstract

Platelet rich plasma (PRP) is an autologous blood product rich in platelets, showing promise in reducing inflammation and accelerating healing. While extensively utilized in plastic surgery, dermatology, and osteoarthritis treatment, its application in anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries is limited. This article examines PRP's potential in ACL reconstruction (ACLR), exploring its history, current usage, controversies and future directions. PRP has demonstrated significant early benefits in ligamentisation and vascularisation post-ACLR, though its long-term efficacy is inconsistent. Studies suggest that PRP may serve as both an adjunct therapy in ACLR to enhance initial healing and reduce postoperative complications, and as a non-surgical alternative for small ACL tears. Despite these promising findings, outcome variability necessitates further high-quality research to optimize PRP formulations and determine its most effective applications. The exploration of PRP as a treatment modality in ACLR offers promising but varied outcomes. PRP holds considerable promise as both an adjunct and alternative to traditional ACLR. This article underscores the need for targeted research to fully realize PRP's therapeutic potential in ACL treatment, aiming to inform future studies and clinical practices. By understanding PRP's mechanisms of efficacy and identifying the most beneficial patient populations, PRP could significantly impact orthopaedics and sports medicine, improving recovery pathways and patient outcomes.