Study protocol for a randomised placebo controlled trial of platelet-rich plasma injection to prevent post-traumatic knee osteoarthritis after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction

• Published in: BMJ open 2022-11, Vol.12 (11), p.e061484-e061484
• Main Authors: Momoi, Yasumasa, Saita, Yoshitomo, Nagao, Masashi, Kobayashi, Yohei, Nakajima, Ryosuke, Uchino, Sayuri, Wakayama, Takanori, Nishio, Hirofumi, Fukusato, Shin, Wakana, Suguru, Tomura, Jun, Kobayashi, Keiji, Yoshida, Keiichi, Kaneko, Haruka, Kubota, Mitsuaki, Ishijima, Muneaki
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult orthopaedics; Arthritis; Body mass index; Joint and ligament injuries; Knee; ORTHOPAEDIC & TRAUMA SURGERY; Orthopaedic sports trauma; Osteoarthritis; Surgery
• ISSN: 2044-6055; 2044-6055
• DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2022-061484

IntroductionThe elevated cytokine levels in patients suffering from anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) rupture may lead to acute post-traumatic arthritis (APTA) and post-traumatic osteoarthritis (PTOA). Due to its chondrogenerative and anti-inflammatory effect, platelet-rich plasma (PRP) therapy is expected to show a positive outcome in APTA and PTOA. The proposed trial aims to quantitatively measure the efficacy of PRP injection in arresting post-traumatic cartilage degeneration among patients after ACL reconstruction.Methods and analysisThis will be a single-blind, randomised, prospective, controlled clinical trial designed following the Consolidated Standards of Reporting Trials guidelines. After ACL reconstruction, 80 patients will be randomised to receive either leucocyte-poor PRP injection after joint aspiration or a placebo control group receiving only joint aspiration. Participants (age 20–49 years) will be those who have undergone ACL reconstruction within the past 2 weeks with a body mass index