Comparative Efficacy of Platelet-Rich Plasma Injection Alone Versus Arthroscopy Combined with Platelet-Rich Plasma Injection in the Treatment of Stoller Grade I-II Meniscus Tear

Objective To optimize patient treatment plans, this study compares the early clinical outcomes of PRP injection alone versus arthroscopic surgery combined with PRP for Stoller I-II meniscus tears, analyzing the pros and cons of each treatment and recovery status, and recommends the best clinical strategy based on the severity of the injury. Methods A retrospective study was conducted on patients with Stoller I-II meniscus injuries at the People's Hospital of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region from September 2023 to December 2024. Patients with knee osteoarthritis, cruciate ligament injuries, or other knee issues were excluded. Participants were divided into two treatment groups: PRP injection alone and arthroscopic repair with PRP injection. Efficacy was assessed using the Visual Analog Scale (VAS), Lysholm score, and Japanese Orthopedic Association (JOA) criteria before treatment and at 1, 3, and 6 months post-treatment. Additionally, MRI examinations of the knee joint were performed at the final follow-up to facilitate radiological assessment. Data analysis was performed using SPSS 22.0, employing the Chi-square test for categorical data and repeated measures ANOVA for within-group comparisons over time. Comparisons between the two groups were performed using independent samples t-tests. Results A total of 40 patients were enrolled in the study, with 20 patients allocated to each group. No serious complications were observed in either group following treatment. Compared with pre-treatment, the VAS scores of both groups significantly decreased (P < 0.05) at 1, 3, and 6 months after treatment, while the Lysholm and JOA scores significantly increased (P < 0.05), with statistically significant differences. Furthermore, radiological analysis demonstrated evidence of improvement in MRI images for both groups at the final follow-up when compared to pre-treatment images. Conclusion Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) therapy has been demonstrated to effectively alleviate knee joint pain associated with Stoller grade I-II meniscus tears in the short term, while also enhancing knee joint function. This treatment exhibits promising early efficacy in facilitating meniscus repair. Notably, when compared to arthroscopic surgery combined with PRP, PRP injection alone yields comparable therapeutic outcomes to surgical intervention.