Advances in Regenerative Medicine for Tendon Injuries: Stem Cells vs. PRP Therapies

Since tendons heal slowly and tend to repeat the injury, their treatment is a significant clinical issue as it commonly causes delayed healing and unfavorable results. Recent research has identified regenerative medicine as a promising therapeutic approach, with platelet-rich plasma (PRP) and stem cells being increasingly investigated. The review aims to evaluate the effectiveness of current strategies for tendon repair using regenerative medicine, assess their success and safety in clinical settings, and discuss potential future applications. PRP provides autologous growth factors that can aid in rapid tissue repair, while mesenchymal stem cells derived from various sources, such as bone marrow and adipose tissue, possess multilineage potential, modulate the immune system, and can facilitate tissue repair with the assistance of chemical signals. Preclinical and clinical studies have shown that optimal results cannot be expected from all therapies because they vary in numerous aspects. Though findings hold great promise, issues of inconsistency in cell preparation, heterogeneity in outcome measures, and difficulties with regulation persist. According to the authors, more rigorous randomized controlled trials are needed to determine the optimal practices for each tendon treatment, enabling physicians to offer evidence-based, individualized care.