Effectiveness of Platelet-rich Plasma in Treating Spinal Cord Injuries: A Systematic Review & Meta-analysis

The present systematic review and meta-analysis was designed to investigate platelet-rich plasma (PRP) as an effective treatment for spinal cord injury in animal models.

An extensive literature search was conducted using electronic databases. The included studies were summarized based on the investigated outcomes, including functional recovery and cavity size. Data were recorded as Mean±SD. The relationships between variables and the outcomes were investigated based on the “meta” command in the STATA 17.0 statistical program.

In total, 9 articles were included in the present meta-analysis. Pooled data analysis showed that administrating PRP significantly improved the motor function of animals (standardized mean differences [SMD]=1.5; 95% CI, 0.9%, 2.1%; P<0.0001). In subgroup analysis based on the severity of the injury, PRP administration significantly improved the motor function of animals in both moderate (SMD=2.59; 95% CI, 1.59%, 3.59%; P<0.0001; I2=30.22%) and severe injuries (SMD=1.22; 95% CI, 0.64%, 1.79%; P<0.0001; I2=56.35%). However, the recovery of function was significantly more in animals with moderate spinal cord injury (meta-regression coefficient=-1.36; 95% CI, -2.68%, -0.09%; P=0.035). In assessing cavity size, pooled data analysis showed that PRP administration significantly reduces cavity size (SMD=-2.2; 95% CI, -3.44%, -0.95%; P<0.0001).

This meta-analysis shows that PRP can significantly improve motor function and reduce the cavity size in animals with moderate to severe spinal cord injuries.