Retrospective Analysis of the Effectiveness of Platelet-Rich Plasma in the Treatment of Achilles Tendinopathy

UNLABELLED: Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) has been presented as a means of treating Achilles tendinopathy. Over the past dozen years, a plethora of medical articles have advocated this treatment, yet little evidentiary-based research exists in support of this approach. Treatment protocols with PRP have been performed in 2 ways during this time: administered adjunctively during tendon surgery and as a stand-alone injection. The senior author has utilized PRP by both methods to treat Achilles tendinopathy over the past 7 years; 26 patients so treated were able to be recalled, half having undergone Achilles tendon surgery in combination with PRP administration and the other half PRP alone. In this retrospective study, qualified patients had pretreatment and posttreatment magnetic imaging studies and completed a Victorian Institute of Sports Assessment-Achilles questionnaire. In this limited study, PRP showed promise in the treatment of Achilles tendinopathy. Both the stand-alone injection group and surgical/injection groups had statistically significant degrees of improvement in pre-MRI and post-MRI imaging studies. There was no statistically significant difference between the 2 treatment groups. Of interest, it appears that the difference between the MRI scoring correlates with the survey score. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Therapeutic, Level, IV: Case series.