Mini Reviews

The therapeutic use of Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP) has been investigated for various meniscal pathologies, including:

• Enhancing recovery following partial meniscectomy
• Non-operative management of meniscal degeneration or degenerative tears
• Facilitating healing in complex meniscal repairs

This mini-review critically examines the current evidence regarding the efficacy of PRP in treating these conditions.

Adipose tissue is a rich source of mesenchymal stem cells (also known as Medicinal Signaling Cells), Adipose Derived Stem Cells (ADSC)) located in the Stromal Vascular Fraction (SVF). Previously these cells were obtained enzymatically from lipoaspirates or expanded in cell cultures, leading to regulatory problems or the need for expensive GMP laboratories if cells needed to be cultured.  Enzymatically processed lipoaspirate contains ADSCs, endothelial precursor cells (EPCs), endothelial cells (ECs), macrophages, smooth muscle cells, lymphocytes, pericytes, as well as pre-adipocytes, collectively named the SVF (1). SVF has been shown to be effective in the symptomatic treatment of OA. A recent meta-analysis of 79 RCTs with 8761 patients were comparing the intra-articular injection of  autologous conditioned serum (ACS), bone marrow aspirate concentrate (BMAC), botulinum toxin, corticosteroids (CS), hyaluronic acid (HA), mesenchymal stem cells (MSC), ozone, saline placebo, platelet-rich plasma (PRP), plasma rich in growth factor (PRGF), and stromal vascular fraction (SVF) demonstrated that SVF injections resulted in the greatest improvement in pain and functional outcomes in patients with knee OA at up to 1 year (2).