Ultrasound-guided injection of platelet-rich plasma in a patient with an ischeotibial muscle injury Inyección guiada por ultrasonido de plasma rico en plaquetas en un paciente con lesión en el origen de la musculatura isquiotibial

Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) is a platelet concentrate that is obtained after centrifugation and may influence tissues healing by growth factors released after platelet degranulation. This treatment has been used for the management of muscles, ligaments, and tendinopathy injuries with promising results, there is still limited clinical evidence for its use. In this study we present the report of a case of a 50-year-old soccer player who presented an injury at the origin of the ischeotibial muscles of the right thigh. On day 13, after the injury, autologous Platelet Rich Plasma (APRP) was applied under ultrasound (US) guidance. The control by US and Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) was performed two weeks after the PPR application, which show resolution of the hematoma, and tissue regeneration. The patient returned to his sports activity at week 12 after the PRP treatment, without pain and with improvement in muscular strength The PRP treatment could be an option to avoid surgical procedures in athletes because it could improve muscular strength and healing, added it is easy to obtain and apply. Further studies are necessary to reach a consensus regarding clinical indications, processing and PRP application techniques that rebound in alternatives to improve the quality of life of patients in a cost-effective way, as well as shortening the recovery time of athletes.


Ultrasound-guided injection of platelet-rich plasma in a patient with an
ischeotibial muscle injury Inyección guiada por ultrasonido de plasma rico en plaquetas en un paciente con lesión en el origen de la musculatura isquiotibial Introduction Ischeotibial injuries are a common type of injury with a prevalence of 12-37% in the sports field, characterized by debility and difficulty in running (Ashley N. Startzman, DO;Oliver Fowler, BS;Dominic Carreira, 2017), having as a consequence an average of 8 to 24 days lost from competition or sportive activity, and moreover a high re-injury rate, up to 34%, as this is more severe for both symptoms and recovery time that the first trauma (Di Trani Lobacz, Glutting, & Kaminski, 2016) The diagnosis and follow up of ischeotibial muscle injury are usually made by nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and ultrasonography (US). The treatment protocol for muscle injuries is generally aimed at reducing inflammation and pain in the acute phase. Later, treatment focuses on strengthening and improving the range of motion of the injured muscle (Ali K, 2012).
Hamstring injuries can be separated based on proximal, muscle belly, and distal injuries, more commonly the proximal and distal injuries require surgery. Nonsurgical treatments focus on eccentric strengthening. High grade complete tears are better managed surgically, with reattachment to the injured tendon or ischial tuberosity (Arner, McClincy, & Bradley, 2019). PRP has been postulated as a treatment that can help in the healing of different tissue disorders. Autologous platelet-rich plasma is a platelet concentrate that contains a number of platelets above the baseline value (150,000 to 350,000/ìL), and an increased concentration of the growth factors of its alpha granules; (TGF-â1, PDGF, bFGF, VEGF, EGF, IGF-1), which are concentrated through the centrifugation process to release supraphysiologic amounts of these growth factors and cytokines to an injury site and augment the natural healing process (Le, Enweze, DeBaun, & Dragoo, 2018).
Currently, there is no consensus about management strategies to this type of injury, in general the classical management aims to reduce inflammation by means of anti-inflammatory therapy, immobilization, rest, compression, and corticosteroids, which have demonstrated slow results and also a high possibility of relapses (Di Trani Lobacz et al., 2016). Additionally, some of these injuries should be treated by means of surgery, which presents a high associated morbidity. Nevertheless, in any case, rehabilitation is imperative, however there is a marked variability in the composition and timing of rehabilitation protocols (Raya-González, Gómez Piqueras, & Sánchez-Sánchez, 2018).
Consequently, is necessary to implement and standardize other less invasive treatment alternatives that allow shortening the time to complete fitness and to return to physical activity, as well as re-injury reduction, improving the patient quality of life (Setayesh, Villarreal, Gottschalk, Tokish, & Choate, 2018). A promising treatment option is the use of bioactive substances such as platelet-rich plasma (PRP), a product that has been used for the management of muscle, ligament, and tendinopathy injuries with promising results, but currently there is limited clinical evidence. (Andia, Martin, & Maffulli, 2018).
The aim of this report was to demonstrate clinical improvement in a patient with ischeotibial muscle injury following treatment with platelet-rich plasma (PRP).

Case Presentation
This research was approved by the Institutional Ethics Committee of the Antonio Nariño University from Colombia, and the patient enrolled, responded voluntarily to an informed consent formulary at the beginning of the study.
The patient include in this study was a 50-year-old man, with dominant right member, who has practiced different sports since adolescence, and suffered an injury during a soccer match. During the fifth minute of the game and after he started to a race for the ball, he felt a snap at the base of the right buttock associated with an intense pain that made him unable to walk. Ice was placed on the location of the injury, and an oral analgesic and intramuscular anti-inflammatory was administered. Twenty-four hours later, the orthopedist found edema without ecchymosis, limitation of knee flexion. The same day, a pelvic radiograph was taken which reported the absence of recent fracture (data not shown). The NMR and the US, report a proximal hamstring injury classified as Münich 4, showed edema and fluid around the lesion and tear of the superior calf, with involvement of the sciatic nerve (Mueller-Wohlfahrt et al., 2013). Photo 1, panels A and B).
The patient was immobilized with a thigh brace, and the management consisted of raised leg, ice for 72 hours, and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs orally if needed. Physiotherapy was started the day after the injury, according to the patient's evolution and condition ( Table 1). The patient continued the weight-bearing and walking protocol.
Due to the lack of consensus in treatment of ischeotibial muscle injury, and considering the high morbidity rates of surgical treatment (Hölmich, 2015). Cryotherapy (local application with package and cry thigh massage). Isometric exercises with slow and controlled contractions 2nd and 3rd Contrast of heat and cold, electro stimulation with TENS (Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation) and application of therapeutic ultrasound (favor healing process and reduce inflammation). Exercises in closed kinetic chains in supine and bipedal, exercises of active-assisted ischeotibial muscle contraction in prone, and isotonic without load. Strengthening of quadriceps, gastrocnemius with elastic bands. Stabilization exercises, pelvic floor strengthening, and abdominals. CORE.
4th, 5th, 6th Concentrated ischeotibial muscle exercises with elastic bands, in sub-maximum ranges and with slow contractions. Exercises with fit ball in supine, bipedal, in open, and closed kinetic chains. Uni and bipodal proprioceptive work on unstable surfaces. The gluteal, quadriceps, gastrocnemius, pelvic floor, and abdominal muscles are continued. 7th-8th Exercises of displacements and changes of speed, with wide, anterior, and lateral stride.
Jogging. Isotonic exercises with resistance and long lever arms. Proprioceptive work on unstable surfaces and exercises in open and closed kinetic chains.
11th-12th Ride a bicycle. Return to sports activity.
Looking at the advances made in the management of various musculoskeletal injuries with the use of regenerative medicine therapies, particularly with the use of PRP, we wanted to know what would be the effect on this patient (Guillodo, 2015) We use a manual obtaining and processing technique standardized by our research group. Platelet rich plasma was obtained from the same patient, from 50 mL of peripheral blood, were centrifuged at 1500 rpm for 10 minutes, then, in a biological safety cabinet the plateletpoor plasma was separated and 8 mL of platelet-rich plasma was obtained. The patient had a baseline platelet count of 223,000/ul and after using our protocol for obtaining PRP, he had 825,000/ul, an amount that was applied in a single dose, at the site of injury (Gómez, Escobar, & Peñuela, 2015). A single dose of autologous PRP was injected by ultrasound guidance on day 13 after the injury occurred (Photo 1, panel C).
Two weeks after the Platelet Rich Plasma treatment, an imaging control was performed with US and NMR, where resolution of the hematoma and progression towards scar changes and tissue regeneration were evidenced. Photo 2, panels A and B).
After week twelve, the patient began to practice volleyball, noticing an improvement in muscle strength, without pain or limitation. (Physical therapy evaluation (Table 2).
Finally, a radiological control was performed at week 16 after treatment with PRP, where a complete scarring process was evident with no sign of a residual hematoma (Photo 2, panels C and D). After 1 year of follow-up there was no relapse.

Discussion
Hamstrings injuries are one of the most frequent injuries on soft tissues for competitive and recreational athletes, keeping them away from the competition. The presented case involves a proximal hamstring injury observed mainly in athletes, where surgical treatment is usually suggested (Harris, Griesser, Best, & Ellis, 2011) an option with high morbidity. If a non-surgical management is performed it traditionally focuses on the use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. Other strategies, are also used, such as immobilization, compression, injections of corticosteroids, and physiotherapy which is focused on stretching and eccentric strengthening to facilitate the recovery of tendinopathies, however all of them have demonstrated slow results with reduced patient satisfaction percentage, because of the lower rates of return to preinjury conditions, and also with the possibility of relapses (Harris et al., 2011).
Due to the high incidence of this type of lesson, the low percentage of success of the current treatment strategies, which is evidenced by the persistence of the symptoms and the high rates of recurrence (mainly in the first two weeks after returning to sports) Michael Common runners injuries evaluation and management it is necessary to implement and standardize other less invasive treatment alternatives that lead to improve the percentage of recovery and relapse rate reduction.
Recently, PRP is being used as a therapeutic strategy in bone and tendon regeneration, where specifically, Table 2. Physical therapy evaluation Initial evaluation: • Posture: Lower limbs equal in height, retroverted pelvis, bilateral genuine, right knee in semi-flexion, preserved plantar arches. Pain: 3/10 according to the verbal analogue scale. • Joint mobility: Patient completes range of motion of hip and knee passively. Active gonometry shows limitation of knee flexion of 125°. The extension of the knee with hip flexion at 90°does not present pain or limitation, however, with hip flexion above 90°. • Pain and extension limitation (-10°) is present.
Proprioception: Presents moderate deficit for the position of the toes, heels and unipodal. Evaluation week 12: • Pain: Deny. Joint mobility: Patient completes range of motion of hip and knee passively and actively. • Muscle strength: Hip: Psoas 3 + / 5, gluteus maximus 3 + / 5, gluteus medius 4/5, adductors 3 + / 5, tensor fascia lata 4/5, hip rotators 3 + / 5. Knee: Quadriceps 4/5, Hamstrings 3 + / 5. Standing neck: 3 + / 5 gastrocnemius, tibialis and fibulae. due to the regulation exerted by its growth factors, the formation of new tenocytes and support structure are favored naturally. In addition, the production of collagen also contributes to angiogenesis and tendon regeneration (Mautner & Kneer, 2014). One of the growth factors present in PRP is TGF-β, which is known to act in most stages of tendon recovery and has several effects such as regulation of proteinases, stimulation of cell migration, union of fibronectin, and stimulation of collagen production (Barile et al., 2016). Some authors found no statistically significant differences between athletes suffering from acute injuries in the ischeotibial muscle when they were treated with a single injection of PRP or placebo. (Molloy, Wang, & Murrell, 2003).
Rossi LA et al, studied the time of return to sports activities in a group of 75 patients diagnosed with acute muscle injuries, compared autologous PRP therapy combined with a rehabilitation programme or a rehabilitation programme only. A single PRP injection combined with a rehabilitation programme reduced the time to return to sport compared to a rehabilitation programme only. (Kaux & Emonds-Alt, 2018) Zanon y colaborators, confirmed the safety of PRP in treating hamstring lesions in a large series of professional football players, showed a smaller scar and repair tissue (Zanon et al., 2016) PRP has been used in different musculoskeletal disorders with contradictory results regarding its clinical efficacy, these results are mainly based on the lack of standardized protocols for obtaining and applying PRP, methodology used, and characteristics of the subjects studied. (Mariani & Pulsatelli, 2020) The biological factors as well as the route of administration are determinants in the effectiveness of PRP treatment (Kon et al., 2020). Therefore, we proposed that protocols must be standardized, and a single injection can be administered directly at the injury localization by means of ultrasound guidance, a flexible, available and low cost tool.
The results of this research support the use of PRP as a therapy in the management of ischeotibial muscle injury, along with a physiotherapy program, will shorten the patient's recovery by reducing the tissue regeneration recovery time. In addition, the patient returned to sports activities 12 weeks later, without recidivism after 1 year of follow-up, due to the biological effects of growth factors and to the use of a standardized PRP extraction and processing method, as well as ultrasound guidance, a technique with low risk of complications, and that improves the effectiveness of the PRP treatment, by facilitating access to injuries.
There are variations in the content of growth factors by age and sex, these differences could be correlated with biological variations and the results obtained in each patient. (Gómez et al., 2015) Ultrasonography has proven to be a valuable tool to guide the placement of substances such as PRP, by providing the direct visualization of the needle in the area where the tear is located and allowing a follow-up of the lesion (Draghi, Robotti, Jacob, & Bianchi, 2010).

Conclusion
PRP could be considered for the ischeotibial muscle injury management protocol due to the patient's recovery time and minimal side effects. Additionally, ultrasonography has proven to be a valuable tool to guide the placement of substances such as PRP, by favoring the direct visualization of the needle in the area where the tear is located and allowing a follow-up of the lesion. The improvement of the patient was probably due to the treatment received with PRP and physical therapy. Further studies are necessary to reach a consensus regarding clinical indications, processing, and PRP application technique that rebound in alternatives to improve the quality of life of patients in a cost-effective way, shortening the recovery time of athletes.
More quality clinical studies will be needed in the future to support the positive outlook regarding the use of PRP, to make definitive recommendations regarding its use as a treatment

Funding/Support
This study was supported by the authors