Biologic Treatments for Hip Disorders: A Focus On Platelet-Rich Plasma

The purpose of this systematic article was to assess the role of platelet-rich plasma (PRP) in the treatment of various hip conditions (eg, avascular necrosis, osteoarthritis, femoroacetabular impingement, and labral tears). The Medline, Embase, and PubMed databases were searched on August 5, 2015 for English language studies that addressed PRP use in any hip condition. The studies were systematically screened by 2 reviewers and data abstracted in duplicate. There were 11 eligible studies (5 randomized controlled trials, 1 prospective comparative study, 2 case series, and 3 case reports) reporting on 765 patients. The mean follow-up was 17.9 months (range: 1-48 months). All randomized controlled trials and the prospective comparative study data demonstrated no benefit to PRP use in reviewed hip conditions. All case series’ and case reports demonstrated favorable outcomes with PRP use. There was a low complication rate, with 12 reported complications in the 765 (1.6%) patients. Although the use of PRP appears to be safe, there does not appear to be any significant benefit for its use in this patient population.