Resumo do estudo

36 patients with mid-portion Achilles tendinopathy were randomized to receive an endoscopic debridement procedure (n=19) or an endoscopic debridement procedure combined with an intra-operative platelet-rich plasma injection (PRP) (n=17). Outcomes of interest included patient-reported pain, function, and satisfaction (on a Visual Analog Scale), the Victorian Institute of Sports Assessment-Achilles (VISA-A) questionnaire, and radiographic outcomes (tendon thickness and tendinopathic area variation). Outcomes were assessed up to 12 months post-treatment. Additional PRP injection significantly improved patient-reported function and satisfaction in the first 3 months compared to debridement only; function was also significantly better at 12 months in the PRP group. No differences in radiographic outcomes or patient-reported pain were observed. The outcomes that were statistically different may not have been clinically relevant.