SUCCESSFUL TREATMENT OF ANTEROLATERAL LIGAMENT TEAR OF THE KNEE WITH ULTRASOUND-GUIDED PLATELET-RICH PLASMA INJECTION: A CASE REPORT

Abstract

Type 1 and type 2 anterolateral ligament (ALL) or meniscocapsular tears are frequently treated conservatively. However, the initiation of the healing process of these tears could take up to six weeks, and about 70% of acute ALL injuries demonstrated poor healing at the 1-year follow-up. This case report describes the successful treatment of an MRI-confirmed ALL tears by direct injection of platelet-rich plasma (PRP) into the ALL and adjacent anterolateral meniscocapsular tears under ultrasound guidance. This treatment yielded excellent outcome with complete relief of pain six weeks after the injection, and repeated ultrasound examination showed 80% restoration of the torn tissues.