Abstract

Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) has offered great promise for the treatment of cartilage degradation, and has been proved to have positive effects on the restoration of cartilage lesions. But no comparative work has been done between PRP and hyaluronate acid (HA) concerning their restoring effect on cartilage defect, especially by means of animal experiments and histologic assessments. The purpose of the study was to compare the therapeutic effects of P-PRP and HA on osteoarthritis in rabbit knees. Thirty rabbits were used to establish the animal models by creating a cartilage defect of 5 mm in diameter on the condyles of the femurs, and were randomly divided into three groups: the P-PRP group, HA group and the control group. Then each group was treated with P-PRP, HA or saline solution, respectively. Six and twelve weeks later the rabbits were sacrificed and the samples were collected. The platelet number, the concentrations of growth factors of P-PRP and whole blood, and the IL-1β concentration in the joint fluid were investigated, and the histological assessment of the cartilage were performed according to Mankin's scoring system. Micro-CT was also used to evaluate the restoration of subchondral bone. The platelet concentration in P-PRP is 6.8 fold of that in the whole blood. The IL-1β level in the P-PRP group was lower than in the HA group (p<0.01) and in the control group (p<0.01). The restoration of the defected cartilage as well as the subchondral bone was better in the P-PRP group than in the HA group or the control group (P<0.05). Our data showed that P-PRP is better than HA in promoting the restoration of the cartilage and alleviating the arthritis caused by cartilage damage.

Highlights

  • Due to its poor blood supply and self-renewal capacity, the normal structure and function of cartilage are difficult to restore when it’s injured or degenerated

  • Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) is a concentrate of autologous platelets, and platelet concentrates techniques could be classified in 4 families based on their fibrin architecture and leukocyte content: pure platelet-rich plasma (PPRP) and leukocyte- and platelet-rich plasma (L-PRP) are liquid platelet suspensions; P-PRP gel and L-PRP gel are polymerized fibrin gel, when P-PRP and L-PRP are activated, respectively [2]

  • Six weeks after the surgery, defects in the control group were filled with disrupted fibrous tissue, with little contact with surrounding cartilage, And not much changes took place but only thicker fibrous coverage could be observed after another six weeks

Read more

Summary

Introduction

Due to its poor blood supply and self-renewal capacity, the normal structure and function of cartilage are difficult to restore when it’s injured or degenerated. Hyaluronic acid (HA) is a kind of acidic mucopolysaccharide, which has been used as a conventional lubricant for degenerated joints for decades [1]. It can lower the friction between the articular surfaces, and alleviate the joint pain of the patients, but its effect is not longstanding and in some occasions may cause allergic or inflammatory reaction. The exact effect of PRP on the cartilage has not been compared with that of HA on animal models, especially investigated with respect to histological changes and subchondral bone restoration. P-PRP and HA were injected into the knee joint cavity of rabbits, and effects of both methods on the restoration of cartilage damage were assessed and compared

Objectives
Methods
Results
Discussion
Conclusion
Full Text
Published version (Free)

Talk to us

Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have

Schedule a call