A comparative study of meniscus allograft transplantation with intra-articular platelet-rich plasma injection

Abstract:

Objective：To compare the clinical and imaging outcomes between meniscus allograft transplantation（MAT） and MAT combined with intra-articular platelet-rich plasma（PRP） injection. Methods：A total of 27 patients were retrospectively included and divided into two groups. Group A contains 15 patients who underwent MAT and group B contains 12 patents who underwent MAT combined with intra-articular PRP injection. The Lysholm，International Knee Documentation Committee（IKDC），Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index（WOMAC），Tegner activity level and Visual Analog Scale （VAS） for pain scores were used to evaluate the outcomes for all patients. Magnetic resonance imaging scans were performed postoperatively to assess graft position and chondral degeneration. Results：There was no significant difference in Tegner score postoperatively（P>0.05）. Group B achieved higher Lysholm，WOMAC and VAS at 6-month follow-up than group A（P<0.05）. However，no significant differences was found in these scores at 1-year and 2-year follow-up（P>0.05）. Group B demonstrated higher IKDC than group A at 6-month and 1-year follow-up（P<0.05），yet there was no significant difference between them at 2-year follow-up（P>0.05）. There was no significant difference in the distribution of the grade of chondral damage and graft extrusion between two groups at 2-year follow-up（P>0.05）. There was one patient in each group resulted decreased function scores after surgery. One in group A showed a focal Ⅳ grade chondral damage and another in group B showed a moderate quadriceps femoris atrophy. Conclusion：MAT combined with intra-articular PRP injection shows higher improvements in pain relief and knee function than MAT during 1 year postoperatively.