• AIM
    • To determine the efficacy of platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injections for symptomatic tendinopathy.
  • DESIGN
    • Systematic review of randomised, injection-controlled trials with meta-analysis.
  • DATA SOURCES
    • Systematic searches of MEDLINE and EMBASE, supplemented by manual searches.
  • ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA FOR SELECTING STUDIES
    • Randomised controlled trials with 3 months minimum follow-up that evaluated pain reduction with PRP versus control (saline, local anaesthetic, corticosteroid) injections in patients with symptomatic tendinopathy.
  • RESULTS
    • A total of 16 randomised controlled trials (18 groups) of PRP versus control were included. Median sample size was 35 patients, a study size that would require an effect size ≥1.0 to achieve statistical significance. PRP was more efficacious than control in reducing tendinopathy pain, with an effect size of 0.47 (95% CI 0.22 to 0.72, p<0.001), signifying a moderate treatment effect. Heterogeneity among studies was moderate (I2=67%, p<0.001). In subgroup analysis and meta-regression, studies with a higher proportion of female patients were associated with greater treatment benefits with PRP.
  • CONCLUSIONS
    • Injection of PRP is more efficacious than control injections in patients with symptomatic tendinopathy.