Antonio Barile, Presenter: Nothing to Disclose

Armando Conchiglia, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Ada Riva, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Cristino D'anniballe, 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 Patellar and Achilles tendon with platelet gel. Today, 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, that allows improvement of function.

We evaluated fifty-seven patients with lesions of patellar and Achilles tendon (23 patellar tendons and 34 Achilles tendons). The patients were evaluated from both the clinical and functional points of view by VAS (for pain), VISA-A and VISA-P (for function of Achilles and patellar tendons, respectively). The instrumental evaluation was carried out by means of US and MRI. Our protocol included three US-guided infiltrations at a distance of 21 days the one from the other, preceded by clinical, functional and US assessments. MRI control was performed both before treatment and 30 days after the last infiltration.

With regards to the Achilles tendon, the mean VAS at the end of treatment improved overall by 76% (from 7.2 to 1.7), and the VISA-A scale by 52% (from 79 to 37.8). With regards to the patellar tendon, the mean VAS improved by 71% (from 7.6 to 2.2) and the VISA-P by 51% (from 76.2 to 37.4). We observed morphological recovery and normalization of MRI signal in 90%. We observed a reduction of sectional area in the Achilles tendon in 30/34 cases (10-15%, 21 pts; 15-20%, 9 pts). Three patients presented an increased area by 10%. With regards to the patellar tendon we observed a reduction of the sectional area in 13 cases. In 10 patients no differences were observed.

Our study shows that the use of platelet gel not only gives satisfactory results in terms of symptoms and function in patients with tendinosis, but it also allows a considerable morphological recovery.

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, that allows improvement of function.

Barile, A, Conchiglia, A, Riva, A, D'anniballe, C, Arrigoni, F, Zugaro, L, Masciocchi, C, US-guided Treatment of Patellar and Achilles Tendons 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/2011/11034510.html