Abstract

Objective: To compare the functional outcomes of arthroscopic anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction by hamstring graft with and without platelet-rich plasma (PRP).
Methodology: This randomized controlled trial was conducted at the department of Orthopedics, Lahore General Hospital, Lahore, Pakistan, from January 2022 to June 2023. Sixty patients of both genders, aged between 18 and 40 years with clinical and radiological evidence confirming arthroscopic ACL injury were enrolled. They were randomly assigned to either ACL reconstruction with a hamstring graft alone or ACL reconstruction with a hamstring graft combined with augmentation using PRP. Functional outcomes were assessed at 6-weeks and 12-weeks post-operatively.
Results: Out of 60 patients, 51 (85.0%) were male. The mean age was 27.9±5.1 years. At 6-weeks follow–up, 28 (93.3%) patients in PRP group were assessed to be in anterior drawe’s test (ADT) grade-1 versus 27 (90.0%) in non-PRP group (p=0.6404). For Lachman’s test, 28 (93.3%) patients were grade-1 in PRP group after 6-weeks follow-up compared to 27 (90.0%) in non-PRP group (p=0.6404). After 12-weeks, 27 (90.0%) patients belonged to grade-1 ADT versus 26 (86.7%) in non-PRP group (p=0.7577). At 12-weeks assessment, 28 (93.3%) patients were grade 1 as per Lachman’s test versus 27 (90.0%) in non-PRP group (p=0.6404). LKS was statistically similar after 6-weeks (p=0.5221) and 12-weeks (p=0.7039).
Conclusion: Adding PRP was not found to play any additional significant role in the improvement of functional outcomes among patients undergoing arthroscopic ACL reconstruction by hamstring graft.

Key words: Arthroscopy, anterior drawer test, hamstring graft, Lachman’s test, platelet-rich plasma.