The effects of orthobiologics in the treatment of tendon pathologies: a systematic review of preclinical evidence

PURPOSE: The aim of this systematic review is to explore the current available knowledge about tendon disorders and orthobiologics derived by preclinical experiments to evaluate their role and efficacy in the different stages and conditions related to the tendon healing processes. METHODS: The systematic review was performed according to the PRISMA guidelines. Different electronic databases (MEDLINE, Web of Science, EMBASE) were searched for studies investigating orthobiologics (PRP and cell-based products from adipose tissue or bone marrow) in animal models or veterinary clinical trials for tendon pathologies (complete/partial tendon ruptures, rotator cuff tears, tendinopathy, enthesis-related injuries). Data regarding the specific product used, the treatment site/pathology, the host and the model were collected. The results were classified into the following categories: histological, biomechanical, molecular and imaging. RESULTS: A large pool of preclinical studies on tendon disorders have been found on platelet-rich plasma (PRP), while data about stromal vascular fraction (SVF) and bone marrow concentrate (BMAC) are still limited and frequently focused on expanded cells, rather than orthobiologics prepared at the point of care. The effect of PRP is related to an acceleration of the healing process, without improvements in the final structure and properties of repaired tendon. Cell-based products have been reported to produce more durable results, but the level of evidence is currently insufficient to draw clear indications. CONCLUSIONS: The preclinical results about orthobiologics applications to tendon pathologies would support the rationale of their clinical use and encourage the performance of clinical trials aimed to confirm these data in human subjects. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s40634-022-00468-w.