Arthroscopy : the journal of arthroscopic & related surgery : official publication of the Arthroscopy Association of North America and the International Arthroscopy Association
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Lack of high-quality evidence has limited the widespread acceptance of platelet-rich plasma, bone marrow aspirate, and other therapeutics, collectively referred to as "orthobiologics," for partial-thickness rotator cuff tears and associated tendinopathies. The existing literature is limited, among other things, by underpowered studies and imprecise descriptions of the administration and/or formulation of the platelet-rich plasma being investigated. However, recent research favors platelet-rich plasma over corticosteroid injections in the nonoperative treatment of rotator cuff pathology. ⋯ A corticosteroid injection may have been the "go-to" nonoperative intervention in the past, but platelet-rich plasma may be a more effective arrow in our quiver. Of course, the conspicuous cost differential between these 2 different injections remains a very real consideration. However, this should be weighed against the increased risk (and cost) of a revision repair in the event that a surgical repair is performed subsequent to a corticosteroid injection.