Effect of platelet-rich plasma on meniscus repair surgery: A meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

BACKGROUND: Studies have shown that platelet-rich plasma (PRP) can enhance the effect of meniscus repair, but some studies have suggested different views on the role of PRP. Therefore, a meta-analysis was conducted to determine whether PRP can enhance the effect of meniscus repair with respect to pain reduction and improved functionality and cure rate in patients with meniscus injury. METHODS: PubMed, EMBASE, Cochrane Library Databases, clinicaltrials.gov, and the CNKI Database were searched from their inception till December 1, 2020. The RCTs reporting the outcomes of the Pain Visual Analog Scale (VAS), Lysholm score, healing rate, and adverse events were included. The risk of bias was assessed using Cochrane collaborative tools. The simulated results were expressed with effect size and 95% confidence interval, and sensitivity and subgroup analysis were performed. RESULTS: The meta-analysis included 8 RCTs and 431 participants. Compared with the control group, use of PRP during meniscus surgery significantly improved the VAS (SMD: –0.40, P = .002, 95%CI: –0.66 to –0.15) and Lysholm score (MD: 3.06, P < .0001, 95%CI: 1.70–4.42) of meniscus injury, but the PRP showed no benefit in improving the healing rate of meniscus repair (RR: 1.22, P = .06, 95%CI: 0.99–1.51). No serious adverse events were reported in any study. CONCLUSIONS: PRP is safe and effective in improving the effect of meniscus repair as augment. High quality RCTs with long follow-up and definitive results are needed in the future to confirm the use and efficacy of PRP in meniscus tears.