Highlights
- Today’s Research Article: PRP + SH crushes shoulder pain—here’s proof.
- Questions from the Field: Don’t use this with PRP—it’s toxic.
- Let’s Get Down to Business: Your patients = your best marketers.
- Come Join Us: Level up live—two events you’ll love.
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Today’s Research Article
Sodium Hyaluronate and Platelet-Rich Plasma for Partial-Thickness Rotator Cuff Tears
Yu Cai, Zhenxing Sun, Bokai Liao, Zhanqiang Song, Ting Xiao, and Pengfei Zhu
Summary:
This randomized, double-blind clinical study assessed the effectiveness of platelet-rich plasma (PRP) and sodium hyaluronate (SH) in treating small to medium partial-thickness rotator cuff tears (PTRCT). The study involved 184 patients divided into four groups: normal saline (NS), SH, PRP, and a combination of SH + PRP, all receiving ultrasound-guided injections weekly for four weeks. The results demonstrated that both PRP and SH + PRP groups showed significant improvements in shoulder function (measured by Constant and ASES scores) and pain reduction (VAS scores), with the SH + PRP group achieving the best outcomes. MRI scans confirmed a significant decrease in tear size, particularly in the SH + PRP group after 12 months.
The study concluded that PRP is effective in promoting tendon healing, reducing pain, and improving function in patients with PTRCT. Importantly, the combination of PRP with SH yielded superior results compared to either treatment alone, possibly due to synergistic biological effects such as prolonged growth factor activity and enhanced tissue healing. These findings support PRP, especially in combination with SH, as a safe, minimally invasive, and effective alternative to surgery for managing small to medium PTRCT.
Talking Points for Doctors to Patients: Why Choose PRP
