Treatment of Achilles tendon partial injuries with injection of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PB-MNCs): a case series

Abstract

Three patients with Achilles tendon partial injury were treated with local injection of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PB-MNCs). All subjects were evaluated both clinically (American Orthopedic Foot & Ankle Society - AOFAS scale) and radiologically (MRI examination) at 2 months, and a clinical reassessment with the AOFAS scale was performed at 6 months. Functional and radiological signs of tendon healing processes were detected as early as 2 months after the procedure and the AOFAS scale rose from an initial average value of 37.0 to 82.7. Even though this study only involved a limited number of participants, our preliminary results indicate that regenerative therapies with PB-MNCs may be a valid alternative to surgical options for Achilles tendon partial injuries, especially in patients with contraindications to surgery, when other conservative approaches (exercises, physical therapies, sclerosing treatment) have failed. Further investigations on the subject seem rationally supported and advisable.