The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of multiple platelet-rich plasma (PRP)
injections on the healing of chronic refractory patellar
tendinopathy after previous classical treatments have failed. We treated 15 patients affected by chronic jumper's knee, who had failed previous nonsurgical or surgical treatments, with multiple PRP
injections and physiotherapy. We also compared the clinical outcome with a homogeneous group of 16 patients primarily treated exclusively with the physiotherapy approach. Multiple PRP
injections were performed on three occasions two weeks apart into the site of patellar
tendinopathy. Tegner, EQ VAS and
pain level were used for clinical evaluation before, at the end of the treatment and at six months follow-up. Complications, functional recovery and patient satisfaction were also recorded. A statistically significant improvement in all scores was observed at the end of the PRP
injections in patients with chronic refractory patellar
tendinopathy and a further improvement was noted at six months, after physiotherapy was added. Moreover, comparable results were obtained with respect to the less severe cases in the EQ VAS score and
pain level evaluation, as in time to recover and patient satisfaction, with an even higher improvement in the sport activity level achieved in the PRP group. The clinical results are encouraging, indicating that PRP
injections have the potential to promote the achievement of a satisfactory clinical outcome, even in difficult cases with chronic refractory
tendinopathy after previous classical treatments have failed.