Trattamento delle lesioni osteocondrali di grado I e II mediante infiltrazione intra-articolare di fattori di crescita autologhi (plasma rich in platelets)

The use of Platelet-rich plasma (PRP), a platelet concentrate made of autogenous blood, is becoming use in the treatment of some orthopaedic diseases. The aim of this study is to assess the effect of PRP on articular cartilage defects in a rabbit model (10 subjects). Twenty osteochondral defects created in the femoropatellar groove, were in ten cases left untreated and in ten cases treated with autogenous PRP. PRP was obtained using a double centrifugation of the rabbit's blood harvested before the operation. 30 days after the lesion was made in both knee, the left one in each rabbit was treated by a PRP injection, followed by other two injection at 45 and 60 days. Tissue specimens were assessed by macroscopic examination and histological evaluation, that showed a better healing of the lesions in the knee treated with PRP injections.