CASE REPORT   

Minerva Orthopedics 2021 August;72(4):432-6

DOI: 10.23736/S2784-8469.20.04013-8

Copyright © 2020 EDIZIONI MINERVA MEDICA

language: English

The successful treatment of a complete tear of the Achilles tendon using platelet-rich plasma alone in a low-compliance patient

Przemysław A. PĘKALA, Alberto GOBBI ✉

Orthopedic Arthroscopic Surgery International (OASI) Bioresearch Foundation, Milan, Italy

Achilles tendon (AT) ruptures are among the most common injuries affecting professional athletes. They also cause substantial morbidity in amateurs. Despite the clinical significance of this problem and the conduction of numerous clinical and basic science studies, there is no consensus on the best therapeutic approach to AT ruptures (surgical versus conservative). Recently, augmentation of standard treatment with regenerative biology has been utilized in resolving many problems of sports medicine. We present a case report on the successful treatment of a complete AT rupture using only three local platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injections in the lesion area under ultrasound guidance (without immobilization - a very low-compliance patient). Our clinical observations suggest the possible application of PRP injections as an augmentation to standard therapeutic protocols.

KEY WORDS: Platelet-rich plasma; Achilles tendon; Patient compliance; Regenerative medicine