Role of platelet-rich plasma in tendon-bone healing after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction with tendon allograft / 中华创伤杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To observe the effect of platelet-rich plasma(PRP)gel on tendon-bone healing following tendon allograft reconstruction of anterior cruciate ligament(ACL).Methods Bilateral ACL reconstructions using Achilles tendon allografts were performed in 24 New Zealand white rabbits matured skeletally.One knee joint was pretreated with the allograft PRP gel(served as experimental group),while the contralateral knee joint was free from treatment with PRP(served as control group).The reconstructions were assessed histologically,immunohistochemically and biomechanically at 2,6 and 12 weeks.Results At 2 and 6 weeks,Burak scores of experimental group were higher than control group.At 12 weeks,the grafts showed a mature zone of fibrocartilage in experimental group but mature scar tissues on the tendon-bone surface.Immunohistochemistry demonstrated early higher expression of VEGF in experimental group than control group and continually higher expression of TGF-β1 in experimental than control group.In contrast,the grafts of the controls group revealed the development of mature scar tissue resembling Sharpey fibers spanning the tendon-bone interface.At 2 and 6 weeks,the biomechanical analysis revealed the limit load of(15.3±2.9)N and(33.2±6.9)N respectively in experimental group,which were significantly higher than(7.9±1.4)N and(23.7±4.9)N in control group (P ＜ 0.05).Conclusion Application of PRP is the potential means to enhance the earlier healing of the allograft tendon-bone.