Joost Peerbooms

131 Discussion CONCLUSION and FUTURE PERSPECTIVES From the studies presented in this thesis, we conclude that PRP outperformed corticosteroid injection for tennis elbow and plantar fasciitis. This is in line with other studies, reviews and meta-analyses of these topics. However, this in itself does not constitute proof of a positive effect of PRP injections. Negative effects of corticosteroid injections in tendinopathy have been found; therefore, the negative effect of corticosteroid injections may bias perceptions of the effectiveness of PRP. We would recommend future studies with a better control group. We did not find added value in using PRP in wound healing after TKA, but studies in high-risk groups may be valuable. PRP has become prominent in orthopaedic surgery and sports medicine over the last decades. However, studies that have been conducted on PRP up to now have been rather limited in quality. Investigation into PRP’s therapeutic applications, optimal cellular compositions and treatment protocols lag far behind its widespread clinical use. We recommend that each future study provide detailed, precise, and stepwise description of PRP preparation protocols. Then, a standardised rehabilitation protocol should be given to all patients to facilitate post-injection uniformization. Both of these steps will lead to more effective comparisons of future studies and will provide clearer information of the true potential of PRP. Future studies should also focus on measurements of adverse effects, patient satisfaction, cost effectiveness and quality of life among their primary outcomes. 8