The efficacy of platelet rich plasma in treating symptomatic cases with MRI-confirmed degenerative medial meniscal lesions

Abstract

Objects To observe the efficacy and imaging changes after autologous platelet rich plasma intra-articular injection for symptomatic degenerative meniscal lesions. Methods From December 2019 to May 2021, 68 knee pain outpatients over 50 years old whose diagnoses were also confirmed by MRI which showing I-III degrees meniscus degenerative lesions underwent a series of intra-articular injection of autologous platelet rich plasma (PRP), 3 sequential injections with 7-day intervals. All patients were followed-up and evaluated by Lysholm Knee Scoring Scale 1 month and 6 months post treatment. MRI was rearranged for all patients at the time of the sixth month after treatment to observe if there were changes of the meniscal lesion as well as the edema of the MCL and the adjacent bone marrow. Institutional review board of Xuzhou Medical University approved the respective study protocol (2019KY006). Results The Lysholm scores of 68 patients were all significantly improved post-treatment and there was no significant difference between one month and six months after treatment. MRI showed that after 6 months of PRP treatment the bone marrow edema areas were dramatically decreased and even totally disappeared in some patients (15/25). Meanwhile, MRI imaging also showed in 83.3% (65/78) of the patients that the edema around the medial collateral ligament (MCL) disappeared completely while others presented significant diameter-decrease of their primary edema areas. Conclusions Good clinical outcomes were achieved in patients with symptomatic degenerative medial meniscus lesions after intra-articular injection of PRP. MRI showed the primary edema area of the medial collateral ligament and the bone marrow both decreased and, in some cases, even disappeared at the sixth month post-treatment.