Platelet-rich plasma and hyaluronic acid in the treatment of acute ankle sprains: A review

TL;DR

This review examines the use of platelet-rich plasma and hyaluronic acid for treating acute ankle sprains, finding short-term benefits but limited long-term evidence.

Contribution

The paper provides a focused review of regenerative therapies for acute ankle sprains, highlighting their potential as adjunctive treatments.

Findings

PRP injections showed short-term benefits in pain reduction and functional recovery.

HA demonstrated sustained advantages over placebo in pain relief and return to sport.

Small sample sizes and inconsistent protocols limit the evidence base for these therapies.

Abstract

Ankle sprains are prevalent musculoskeletal injuries commonly encountered in the general population, particularly among athletes. While conventional treatments are widely practiced, regenerative therapies have emerged as potential adjunctive options. This narrative review aims to assess the role of regenerative therapy in the management of acute ankle sprains and evaluate its efficacy through an analysis of the literature. We focused on studies available in PubMed, restricting our search to English-language articles published between January 2005 and December 2024. Our review identified five studies on platelet-rich plasma (PRP) and one on hyaluronic acid (HA). The PRP studies included four clinical trials and one case report. PRP injections demonstrated short-term benefits in pain reduction and functional recovery, particularly when administered early and in multiple doses. However, long-term outcomes were often comparable to standard treatments or placebo. The study on HA indicated consistent and sustained advantages over placebo in alleviating pain, expediting the return to sport, and reducing recurrence rates. Based on the current evidence, PRP and HA may function as adjunctive therapies for acute ankle sprains, especially for short-term symptom relief and functional recovery. Treatment efficacy appears to be influenced by factors such as injection timing, volume, immobilization protocols, and the concurrent use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. Nonetheless, the evidence base remains constrained by small sample sizes, heterogeneous protocols, and a lack of long-term follow-up. Therefore, further high-quality randomized controlled trials are essential to establish standardized protocols and ascertain the long-term efficacy of these regenerative therapies.

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