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Published in: International Orthopaedics 9/2012

Open Access 01-09-2012 | Original Paper

Pain and activity levels before and after platelet-rich plasma injection treatment of patellar tendinopathy: a prospective cohort study and the influence of previous treatments

Authors: Taco Gosens, Brenda L. Den Oudsten, Erik Fievez, Paula van ‘t Spijker, Alex Fievez

Published in: International Orthopaedics | Issue 9/2012

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Abstract

Purpose

The aim of this study was to evaluate the outcome of patients with patellar tendinopathy treated with platelet-rich plasma injections (PRP). Additionally, this study examined whether certain characteristics, such as activity level or previous treatment affected the results.

Methods

Patients (n = 36) were asked to fill in the Victorian Institute of Sports Assessment – Patellar questionnaire (VISA-P) and visual analogue scales (VAS), assessing pain in activities of daily life (ADL), during work and sports, before and after treatment with PRP. Of these patients, 14 had been treated before with cortisone, ethoxysclerol, and/or surgical treatment (group 1), while the remaining patients had not been treated before (group 2).

Results

Overall, group 1 and group 2 improved significantly on the VAS scales (p < .0.05). However, group 2 also improved on VISA-P (p = .0.003), while group 1 showed less healing potential (p = 0.060). Although the difference between group 1 and group 2 at follow-up was not considered clinically meaningful, over time both groups showed a clinically significant improvement.

Conclusion

After PRP treatment, patients with patellar tendinopathy showed a statistically significant improvement. In addition, these improvements can also be considered clinically meaningful. However, patients who were not treated before with ethoxysclerol, cortisone, and/or surgical treatment showed the improvement.
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Metadata
Title
Pain and activity levels before and after platelet-rich plasma injection treatment of patellar tendinopathy: a prospective cohort study and the influence of previous treatments
Authors
Taco Gosens
Brenda L. Den Oudsten
Erik Fievez
Paula van ‘t Spijker
Alex Fievez
Publication date
01-09-2012
Publisher
Springer-Verlag
Published in
International Orthopaedics / Issue 9/2012
Print ISSN: 0341-2695
Electronic ISSN: 1432-5195
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s00264-012-1540-7

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