The growing demand for ultrasound-guided infiltrations of joints and tendons prompted the researchers to test treatments that would offer longer-term durability for the supraspinatus tendon, said presenter Dr. Antonio Barile of the University of L'Aquila.
Preliminary results show satisfactory findings from the platelet gel in terms of symptomatology and function recovery in patients with supraspinatus tendon degenerative changes, Barile said.
"Ultrasound allows [physicians] to localize with high precision the site of degenerative changes and to exactly guide the [platelet] gel inoculation at this level," Barile said.
Barile noted that MRI is very useful in comparing pre- and postinfiltrative tendon images and for quantitative evaluation of recovery.
"A larger number of cases and a longer follow-up are needed to confirm our preliminary results and to evaluate whether the morphological recovery may be time-related," he said.
