We have learned that surgery may not be an effective long-term treatment for degenerative meniscus tears. Therefore patients who have not responded to physical therapy and bracing may fall into a treatment gap in which seemingly no evidence-based options exist.

Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) is a treatment which is gaining evidence and may fill the aforementioned gap for the treatment of degenerative meniscus tears.

Injections are a common part of treatment plans in orthopaedics and sports medicine, providing therapeutic relief of pain and improvement in function. Furthermore, injections may be used as a diagnostic tool to guide treatment.

While the first report of the use of diagnostic ultrasound for musculoskeletal purposes dates to the 1950’s (Dussik et al., 1958), its use within orthopaedics has accelerated over the past 10-15 years due to its accessibility and image resolution capabilities.