Effectiveness of platelet-rich plasma as an adjunct to core decompression to treatment outcomes and femoral head preservation in avascular necrosis of the hip: A meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

Background@#Avascular necrosis (AVN) of the femoral head results from intraosseous pathology causing functional impairment. Early diagnosis allows conservative treatment like core decompression, delaying total hip arthroplasty.@*Objective@#This meta-analysis aims to summarize platelet-rich plasma's (PRP) impact as an adjunct to core decompression (CD) on treatment outcomes and femoral head preservation in hip AVN. @*Methods@#The study conducted a comprehensive literature search using PubMed, Cochrane Library, Science Direct, Google Scholar and Med Line, including randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and previous meta-analyses from various databases. Using a random effects model, it compared PRP+CD with bone grafting to CD with bone grafting alone in AVN patients, evaluating function, pain scores, disease progression and the need for hip surgery.@*Results@#The meta-analysis examined 1041 records and included three studies. The primary outcomes were function and pain scores using Harris Hip Scoring (HHS) and Visual Analog Scale (VAS). Postoperative HHS scores at final follow-up favored the PRP+CD group significantly over CD alone. Postoperative VAS scores showed a trend towards higher scores in the CD alone group. The PRP+CD group demonstrated higher survival from disease progression compared to CD alone. Overall, the study suggests that PRP+CD led to better functional outcomes and disease progression outcomes than CD alone in AVN of the hip.@*Conclusion@#The PRP+CD treatment group showed significant benefits in AVN patients compared to CD alone, including higher HHS scores, improved disease progression survival and reduced need for hip surgery. Although PRP+CD resulted in decreased VAS scores, the difference was not statistically significant.

Platelet-rich plasma on ankle sprains – efficacy on pain reduction and shorter return to play: A systematic review of available randomized control trials

Background@#The role of platelet-rich plasma (PRP) has been widely studied, but only recently did trials emerge that probed into its potential role in ankle sprains. With the limited available literature, most of the trials results showed that it might have a role in faster healing and pain reduction. @*Objectives@#The purpose of this review is to summarize available studies on ankle sprains in order to identify if there is good initial evidence of its role on return to play (RTP) among active individuals as well as pain reduction. It is also to identify if results were consistent among studies. @*Methodology@#A systematic search of available literature in online databases was done to compare results about outcome measures on pain score and RTP. Included studies are those with a population of 18 years and above treated with PRP with or without post-procedural immobilization. Outcome scorings that assessed pain as a parameter was also included. @*Results@#Three randomized controlled trials and two prospective studies were identified. Results showed an average of 8 weeks to RTP (p-value - 0.006) with decreased pain in ankle sprains treated with PRP and functional therapy. @*Limitation@#Only one randomized controlled trial (RCT) compared PRP with a placebo and a small population of all studies made available. More comparable RCTs are needed to strengthen results of the studies. @*Conclusion@#The use of PRP on ankle sprains may have a potential role in shorter time to RTP and pain reduction.

Lower limb amyoplasia in a Filipino female: A case report and a review of the literature

@#Amyoplasia is the most common form of arthrogryposis (multiple congenital contracture). It has an estimated incidence of one in 10,000 live births. Lower limb-amyoplasia is a specii c subtype with an estimated incidence of 1 in 75,000 - 100,000 live births. There are only 85 cases of lower limb amyoplasia identii ed in literature, and there are no published cases from the Philippines. We discuss a rare case of lower limb amyoplasia in an 11-year-old Filipino female presenting with additional unique features of severe scoliosis (managed with spine correction surgery) and multiple skin dimples in the gluteal area. The study was performed according to the CARE guidelines for case reports.