Healing of donor site in bone-tendon-bone ACL reconstruction accelerated with plasma rich in growth factors: a randomized clinical trial.

Purpose: To determine whether the use of plasma rich in growth factors accelerates healing of the donor site in bone-tendon-bone anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction (patellar graft). The use of the patellar graft presents post-operative problems such as anterior knee pain, which limits its use and leads to preference being taken for alternative grafts.

Methods: A double-blind, randomized, clinical trial was performed comparing two groups of patients who underwent ACL reconstruction using patellar tendon graft and comparing the use of plasma rich in growth factors at the donor site after graft harvest in terms of local regeneration by ultrasound assessment.

Results: The plasma rich in growth factors group shows earlier donor site regeneration in comparison with the control group (2 months earlier), with significant differences in the first 4 months of the follow-up.

Conclusion: The application of plasma rich in growth factors shows accelerated tissue regeneration processes with respect to the control group. This fact, together with the previously published with similar conclusions, can create a knowledge basis in order to set out new recovery guidelines following ACL reconstruction.

Level Of Evidence: Therapeutic study, Level I.