Platelet-Poor Plasma: A Novel Treatment for Acute Quadriceps Muscle Injuries

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the efficacy of platelet-poor plasma (PPP) for the treatment of acute quadriceps muscle strains. DESIGN: Cohort study. SETTING: Outpatient Sports Medicine Clinic. PARTICIPANTS: Consecutive patients from January 2021 to January 2023 with an acute quadriceps muscle injury were included. INTERVENTIONS: Quadriceps muscle strain PPP injection. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Number of days until return to full unrestricted participation in sport. RESULTS: Thirty-seven consecutive patients were included. Twelve (32%) of patients were female. The rectus femoris muscle was most commonly involved (73%), followed by the vastus medialis (21.6%). In total, 48.7% of injuries were modified British Athletics Muscle Injury Classification grade 3b. On average, patients returned to full activity 30 days (±15) postinjury when including all injury grades. One recurrent quadriceps muscle injury was seen within 12 months postinjury. CONCLUSIONS: Platelet-poor plasma may be considered an effective treatment for acute quadriceps muscle injuries with a low injury recurrence rate, and may expedite time until return to activity.