Biologic Augmentation in Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction and Beyond: A Review of PRP and BMAC

TL;DR

This review compares PRP and BMAC for ACL reconstruction, highlighting their mechanisms, outcomes, and potential future therapies.

Contribution

The paper provides a comprehensive review of recent biologic augmentation strategies for ACL reconstruction, emphasizing their mechanisms and outcomes.

Findings

PRP provides early anti-inflammatory and proangiogenic effects, while BMAC delivers stem cells and growth factors.

Both PRP and BMAC enhance MRI-defined graft maturation but lack evidence of long-term superiority.

Emerging therapies like peptide hydrogels and exosome delivery show promise for future research.

Abstract

This narrative review synthesizes PubMed- and Scopus-indexed studies from 2020 to 2025, including preclinical animal models, prospective cohort studies, and level I and II randomized trials, to compare two leading biologic augmentation strategies: platelet-rich plasma (PRP) and bone marrow aspirate concentrate (BMAC). The review examines underlying mechanisms of action, delivery techniques, imaging biomarkers of graft maturation, patient-reported and functional outcomes, safety profiles, cost-effectiveness, and regulatory frameworks. PRP provides early anti-inflammatory and proangiogenic signaling, while BMAC delivers a concentrated population of mesenchymal stem cells and growth factors to the tendon–bone interface. Both modalities consistently enhance MRI-defined graft maturation, yet evidence of long-term functional or biomechanical superiority remains inconclusive. Emerging therapies such as peptide hydrogels, adipose-derived stem cells, and exosome delivery offer promising avenues for future research. Standardized protocols and large multicenter trials are needed to clarify comparative efficacy and inform personalized rehabilitation strategies.