No positive effect of autologous platelet gel after total knee arthroplasty: A double-blind randomized controlled trial: 102 patients with a 3-month follow-up

• Published in: Acta orthopaedica 2009-10, Vol.80 (5), p.557-562
• Main Authors: Peerbooms, Joost C, de Wolf, Gideon S, Colaris, Joost W, Bruijn, Daniël J, Verhaar, Jan A N
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Biological and medical sciences; Diseases of the osteoarticular system; Medical sciences; Orthopedic surgery; Surgery (general aspects). Transplantations, organ and tissue grafts. Graft diseases
• ISSN: 1745-3674; 1745-3682
• DOI: 10.3109/17453670903350081

Background and purpose Activated platelets release a cocktail of growth factors, some of which are thought to stimulate repair. We investigated whether the use of autologous platelet gel (PG) in total knee arthroplasty (TKA) would improve wound healing and knee function, and reduce blood loss and the use of analgesics. Patients and methods 102 patients undergoing TKA were randomly assigned to a PG group (n = 50) or to a control (C) group (n = 52). The primary analysis was based on 73 participants (PG: 32; C: 41) with comparison of postoperative wound scores, VAS, WOMAC, knee function, use of analgesics, and the pre- and postoperative hemoglobin values after a follow-up of 3 months. 29 participants were excluded due to insufficient data. Results The characteristics of the protocol-compliant patients were similar to those of the patients who were excluded. Analysis was per protocol and focused on the remaining 73 patients. At baseline and after 3 months of follow-up, there were no statistically significant differences between both groups regarding age, height, weight, sex, side of operation, platelet count, hemoglobin values, severity of complaints (WOMAC), and level of pain. Interpretation In our patients undergoing TKA, application of PG to the wound site did not promote wound healing. Also, we found that PG had no effect on pain, knee function, or hemoglobin values.