Injectable orthobiologics in professional football (soccer) players: a systematic review

Abstract

Introduction: The use of orthobiologics in the treatment of sports injuries has increased because of athletes' desire to heal faster and early return to sports. These therapies comprise platelet-rich plasma (PRP), bone marrow aspirate concentrate (BMAC), and mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) injections which promote the native musculoskeletal system healing and regeneration potential. Objectives: To evaluate the clinical outcomes of PRP, BMAC, and MSCs injections in treating sport-related injuries for professional football (PF) players. Methods: Following the PRISMA guidelines, PubMed, Embase, Scopus, and The Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL) databases were accessed in January 2022. Clinical studies evaluating the outcomes of PRP, BMAC, and MSCs injections in sports-related injuries among PF players were considered eligible. The methodological quality was assessed using the modified Coleman Methodology Score (mCMS), and a short version of the Minimum Information for studies evaluating Biologics in Orthopaedics (MIBO) was recorded for every PRP study. Results: Eleven studies met the eligibility criteria. All implemented PRP, most of them in treating muscle and ligament injuries. Only one study implemented BMAC, and no study implementing MSCs injections in PF players was found. The average mCMS value demonstrated a poor level of methodological quality. Studies reported only 26.13% of the relevant data of the short-MIBO. Conclusions: There is scarce evidence on orthobiologics implementation in PF players other than PRP injections to treat muscle, ligament cartilage, bone, tendon, fascial, and capsular injuries. However, evidence lacks methodological quality and adherence to MIBO to support its implementation.

Keywords

• Orthobiologics
• Platelet-Rich Plasma
• Football Soccer
• Professional Athletes
• Sports Injuries
• Injection Therapies