Treatment of Achilles Tendinopathy with Platelet-Rich Plasma

摘要

To investigate the effectiveness of non-insertional Achilles tendinopathy treatment with platelet-rich plasma (PRP)Fourteen patients were randomly recruited from those who presented with a painful thickening in the Achilles tendon region about 2 cm above the junction with the calcaneus. Each patient was treated by extracting peripheral blood and using the blood to prepare a platelet-rich suspension using a separator (PRP Kit, Curasan). Ultrasonography was used to guide the injection (an average of 3 ml.) of the platelet-rich suspension into the hypoechogenic area of the affected tendon. Following the injection the patients were told to keep the limb elevated as much as possible for 3 days and to use crutches to avoid full loading for the first 2 weeks. At the end of 2 weeks, shoes were fitted with heel lifts and the patients were permitted to walk with crutches, but they were instructed to keep pressure applied to the anterior section of the foot and to exercise the foot passively. Full load with heel lifts was allowed 6 weeks after the injection. The injured extremity was assessed using the American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS) scale for the hindfoot and the Victorian Institute of Sport Assessment - Achilles (VISA-A) scale. Follow-up evaluations were done at 6 weeks and at 3, 6, and 18 months.