A Brief Overview and Update of Regenerative Medicine for the Treatment of Musculoskeletal Conditions

platelet poor plasma (PPP), alpha-2-macroglobulin (A2M), mesenchymal signaling cells (MSCs) for the treatment of common musculoskeletal conditions. Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) Definition, Processing, and Mechanism of ActionPRP is a biological product defined as a portion of the plasma fraction of autologous blood with a platelet concentration above the baseline found in serum blood [1,2].PRP is thought to exert its effects through the activation of endogenous cellular pathways that stimulate growth factors, singling cells, cyto-and chemokines, interleukins (ILs), and various cell types; all of which play a role in stimulating and enhancing tissue repair processes [2].PRP is obtained by venipuncture, followed by centrifugation which allows for the density-dependent separation of blood components, typically into 3 distinct layers.These include supernatant which is PPP, the buffy coat often considered PRP, and infranant consisting of the red blood cell layer (RBCs).In recent years we have seen a significant increase in the literature describing the preparation of PRP; however, no standardized protocol currently exists to optimize its quantity or application [3][4][5][6].Platelet Rich Plasma for Joints. Knee JointPRP is commonly used in the treatment of osteoarthritis (OA), with the knee joint having a substantial body of literature [7,8].PRP has been compared to many other conservative injection options for knee OA including hyaluronic acid (HA), corticosteroid injection (CSI), bone marrow aspirate concentrate (BMAC), MFAT and placebo [9,10].In 2021, a meta-analysis of level 1 studies comparing PRP and HA for knee OA was performed and concluded