Editorial Commentary: Platelet-Rich Plasma in the Treatment of Rotator Cuff Tears-From Hero to Zero?

Abstract

As failure rates after arthroscopic rotator cuff remain high, platelet-rich plasma (PRP) has gained interest as a potential biological augmentation to enhance bone-tendon healing. Recent research shows that delayed PRP application fails to significantly improve clinical results or decrease retear rates but may result in less fatty-infiltration of the repaired rotator cuff muscles. In combination with a lower trend toward retear, this may hint that we should not bid farewell to PRP in rotator cuff repair just yet, and whether our current enthusiasm for emerging biological strategies in rotator cuff repair is justified remains subject to additional investigation.