Antonio Barile, Presenter: Nothing to Disclose

Armando Conchiglia, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Ada Riva, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Lucrezia Marica Gentile, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Francesco Arrigoni, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Luigi Zugaro, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Carlo Masciocchi, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Evaluate the efficacy and safety of the treatment of tendinosis of the Supraspinatus tendon with platelet gelToday, tendinosis and not-acute injuries of the tendons are not treated surgically, but using drugs and physical therapy to reduce pain and, consequently, improve function. The platelet gel is employed in the therapy of tendonitis due to its anti-inflammatory effect that reduces pain and its regenerative action on the tissue which allows improvement of function.

We evaluated thirty-five patients with tendinosis of supraspinatus tendon. The patients were evaluated from both the clinical and functional points of view by VAS (for pain) and Constant Scale (for functionality). The instrumental evaluation was based on US and MRI. In particular, the morphological recovery of the lesions after treatment was assessed by independent review of MR images performed by three radiologists. Our protocol included three US-guided infiltrations at a distance of 21 days between each other, preceded by clinical, functional and US assessments.

The MRI control was performed both before treatment and 30 days after the last infiltration. The mean VAS at the end of treatment improved overall by 75% (from 6.86 to 1.7), the Constant scale by 55.4% (from 55.2 to 85.8). In twenty-nine patients (29/34 85%), post procedural MRI control showed disappearance of inflammatory signs. Tendon thickness, evaluated on MRI, results decreased in 16/34 (47%) cases by 5-15%. We observed a complete normalization of MRI signal in 11/34 (35%) patients and a partial normalization in 12/34 (41%) cases.  

Though the good clinical improvement observed by imaging, the recovery was only discrete. This study shows that the use of platelet gel, giving considerable results in terms of symptoms and function in patients with tendinosis, nevertheless produces only discrete morphological improvement. These results suggest the need of further studies on a larger population and longer term follow-up to assess the possibility to promote tissue regeneration with the employment of this technique.

This study shows that the use of platelet gel, giving considerable results in terms of symptoms and function in patients with tendinosis

Barile, A, Conchiglia, A, Riva, A, Gentile, L, Arrigoni, F, Zugaro, L, Masciocchi, C, US-guided Treatment of Supraspinatus Tendinosis with Autologous Platelet Gel.  Radiological Society of North America 2011 Scientific Assembly and Annual Meeting, November 26 - December 2, 2011 ,Chicago IL. http://archive.rsna.org/2011/11012750.html