Different PRP formulations have been used for the regeneration of the most important tendons of the body: patellar, Achilles, superficial or deep digital flexor, rotator cuff, and intrasynovial flexor tendons.
This chapter analyzes each of these in turn and then focuses on the approaches used for the flexor, Achilles, rotator cuff, and patellar tendons, and the creation of custom bioreactors to aid tendon development is also reviewed.
The most common disorders affect the supraspinatus tendon of the rotator cuff, the Achilles tendon, the flexor tendons of the hand, and the anterior cruciate and medial collateral ligaments of the knee [3], [4].
The effects of PRP alone were evaluated in acute lesions of rat supraspinatus, horse superficial digital flexor, rat rotator cuff, rat patellar, rabbit intrasynovial flexor, and sheep and rat Achilles tendons.
This study pooled participants with a range of diagnoses, including tendinopathy of the rotator cuff, lateral elbow and wrist flexor tendons.
In addition, previous studies in FM [ 18, 19] have utilized a cuff occlusion protocol using the forearm muscles (flexor carpi radialis) to investigate oxygen kinetics, allowing a basis for comparison.
A genetic component may give rise to abnormal collagen formation ('mesenchymal syndrome'): patients affected by this syndrome are prone to have multiple problems that may include rotator cuff pathology, epicondilopathy, carpal tunnel syndrome, triggering of the long finger flexor tendons, and wrist extensor tendon pathology such as De Quervain's disease [ 20].
The most commonly involved tendons are the rotator cuff (particularly supraspinatus) and biceps brachii tendons in the shoulder, the forearm extensor and flexor tendons in the forearm, the patella tendon in the knee, the Achilles tendon in the lower leg, and the tibialis posterior tendon in the ankle and foot.
