Evaluation of Patellar Tendon Structural Changes Following Biological Treatments: Secondary Analysis of Double-Blinded Clinical Trial of Bone Marrow Mesenchymal Stromal Cells and Leukocyte-Poor Platelet-Rich Plasma

This study assessed the effects of bone marrow mesenchymal stromal cells (BM-MSC) and leukocyte-poor platelet-rich plasma (Lp-PRP) on patellar tendon structure in 20 male patients with patellar tendinopathy over 12 months. Using ultrasound tissue characterization, it was found that BM-MSC treatment led to superior tendon regeneration, organization, strength restoration, and pain reduction compared to Lp-PRP. BM-MSC showed more significant improvements in tendon organization and clinical outcomes, suggesting it as a preferable treatment option for patellar tendinopathy. However, the small sample size limits the study's power.