Effects of early postoperative intra-articular injection of platelet-rich plasma into the knee joint on inflammatory cytokine levels and knee joint function in patients with Schatzker type Ⅴ and Schatzker type Ⅵ tibial plateau fractures

WANG Jizhu; ZHANG Wenlong; WANG Zhifeng; ZHANG Zhiyan

doi:10.3969/j.issn.1674-3806.2025.05.15

Abstract：Objective To analyze the effects of early postoperative intra-articular injection of platelet-rich plasma(PRP)into the knee joint on inflammatory cytokine levels and knee joint function in patients with Schatzker type Ⅴ and Schatzker type Ⅵ tibial plateau fractures.Methods A total of 40 patients with Schatzker type Ⅴ and Schatzker type Ⅵ tibial plateau fractures who were admitted to the First Affiliated Hospital of Baotou Medical College,Inner Mongolia University of Science and Technology from January 2023 to December 2024 were recruited.The patients were divided into observation group and control group by using random number table method,with 20 cases in each group.All the patients underwent open reduction and internal fixation with plate and screws for tibial plateau fractures.In the observation group,10 mL of PRP was injected into the knee joint at the 1st week,3rd week and 5th week after surgery.In the control group,10 mL of normal saline was injected into the knee joint at the 1st week,3rd week and 5th week after surgery.The knee joint fluid was collected from the patients at the 3rd week(before injecting PRP/normal saline),5th week(before injecting PRP/normal saline),and 7th week after surgery to detect the levels of interleukin-1β(IL-1β),tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α),and interleukin-6(IL-6).The knee joint function was assessed by using the Hospital for Special Surgery Knee Score(HSS)at the 3rd month after surgery.Results The levels of IL-6 and TNF-α in the observation group were significantly lower than those in the control group at the 3rd week,5th week,and 7th week after surgery(P＜0.05).Compared with those at the 3rd week after surgery,the levels of IL-1β and TNF-α in the observation group were significantly reduced at the 5 th week and 7th week after surgery(P＜0.05).Compared with those at the 3rd week after surgery,the levels of IL-6 in the observation group were significantly reduced at the 7th week after surgery(P＜0.05).The observation group had higher scores in six aspects including pain,function,range of motion,muscle strength,flexion deformity and stability,and higher total HSS scores than the control group,with statistically significant differences between the two groups(P＜0.05).Conclusion Early postoperative intra-articular injection of PRP into the knee joint in patients with Schatzker type Ⅴ and Schatzker type Ⅵ tibial plateau fractures can reduce the inflammatory cytokine levels in the knee joint fluid and improve knee joint function.