J Korean Soc Surg Hand.  2016 Dec;21(4):189-197. 10.12790/jkssh.2016.21.4.189.

The Effect of Platelet Rich Plasma Dosage on the Tendon Healing in Rabbits

• Kim MW
• Lim O
• Hwang SM
• Hwang MK
• Lee JS

• KMID: 2364209
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.12790/jkssh.2016.21.4.189

Abstract

PURPOSE
Autologous platelet rich plasma (PRP) has been known to enhance tendon healing and improve tensile strength after tendon injury. This study investigated the dosage of PRP to increase the tensile strength.
METHODS
PRP was harvested from peripheral bloods of the rabbits. Direct injury model was adopted using 60 achilles tendons in 30 rabbits. The autologous PRP was infiltrated into the Achilles tendon repair site of four groups (control, 0.1, 0.2, 0.4 mL) with different dosages. Tendons were harvested at 2, 4 and 8 weeks and subjected to measuring mechanical tensile strength and dosage of collagen content.
RESULTS
At 2, 4, and 8 weeks, PRP administration following experimental achilles tendon repair resulted in an overall higher average tensile strength and collagen content compared to these of the control. Also, the lengthen the time, tensile strength and collagen content was increased.
CONCLUSION
Autologous PRP enhanced tendon healing in rabbits. Within the PRP dosage setted by the author, more dosage of the infiltrated PRP increases the strength of the tendon and the dosage of collagen content. Further studies will be essential to determine the optimal dosage of PRP in clinical practice.

Keyword

Platelet rich plasma; Tensile strength; Collagen; Tendon

MeSH Terms

Achilles Tendon
Blood Platelets*
Collagen
Platelet-Rich Plasma*
Rabbits*
Tendon Injuries
Tendons*
Tensile Strength
Collagen

Figure

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  Fig. 1. Preparation of platelet rich plasma (PRP). The blood was centrifuged at 4,000 rpm for 10 minutes using a YCELLBIO-Kit. The buffy coat including PRP was separated and transferred in 1 mL syringe.

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  Fig. 2. Traumatic tendon injury model of rabbit. (A) Achilles tendon of a rabbit was exposed. (B) The tendon was cut at the midportion. (C) The tendon was repaired while the suture knot was out. (D) The legs were immobilized using a short leg cast.

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  Fig. 3. (A, B) The harvested tendon on the repair site of which the 1 cm range marking was made, was sutured by tagging at both ends.

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  Fig. 4. This graph shows value of the tensile strength according to the platelet rich plasma (PRP) dosage at 2 weeks. The graph shows mean±standard deviation, that was evaluated by analysis of variance test (p=0.001). Significant value between one group and another group was evaluated by Tukey's method. Control vs. 0.2 mL (*p=0.003), control vs. 0.4 mL (+p=0.001), and 0.1 mL vs. 0.4 mL (ǂp=0.029) were significant.

• 

  Fig. 5. This graph shows value of the tensile strength according to the platelet rich plasma (PRP) dosage at 4 weeks. The graph shows mean±standard deviation, that was evaluated by analysis of variance test (p=0.013). Significant value between one group and another group was evaluated by Tukey's method. Control vs. 0.2 mL (*p=0.021), control vs. 0.4 mL (+p=0.015), and 0.1 mL vs. 0.4 mL (ǂp=0.040) were significant.

• 

  Fig. 6. This graph shows value of the tensile strength according to the platelet rich plasma (PRP) dosage at 8 weeks. The graph shows mean±standard deviation, that was evaluated by analysis of variance test (p=0.039). Significant value between one group and another group was evaluated by Tukey's method. Only control vs. 0.4 mL (*p=0.033) was significant.

• 

  Fig. 7. This graph shows value of the collagen content according to the platelet rich plasma (PRP) dosage at 2 weeks. The graph shows mean±standard deviation, that was evaluated by analysis of variance test (p=0.028). Significant value between one group and another group was evaluated by Tukey's method. Only 0.1 mL vs. 0.4 mL (*p=0.028) was significant.

• 

  Fig. 8. This graph shows value of the collagen content according to the platelet rich plasma (PRP) dosage at 4 weeks. The graph shows mean±standard deviation, that was evaluated by analysis of variance test (p=0.001). Significant value between one group and another group was evaluated by Tukey's method. Control vs. 0.2 mL (*p=0.001), control vs. 0.4 mL (+p=0.001), 0.1 mL vs. 0.2 mL (ǂp=0.030), 0.1 mL vs. 0.4 mL (§p=0.001), 0.2 mL vs. 0.4 mL (ǁp=0.001) were significant.

• 

  Fig. 9. This graph shows value of the collagen content according to the platelet rich plasma (PRP) dosage at 8 weeks. The graph shows mean±standard deviation, that was evaluated by analysis of variance test (p=0.001). Significant value between one group and another group was evaluated by Tukey's method. All comparison between the groups was significant (*). Control vs. 0.1 mL (*p=0.004), control vs. 0.2 mL (+p=0.001), control vs. 0.4 mL (ǂp=0.001), 0.1 mL vs. 0.2 mL (§p=0.025), 0.1 mL vs. 0.4 mL (ǁp=0.001), 0.2 mL vs. 0.4 mL (¶p=0.002).

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  Fig. 10. Histological photographs at 2 weeks (H&E and picrosirius red, ×100). Representative images of structural maturation and quantitative changes of stained collagen with different platelet rich plasma (PRP) dosages.

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