USE OF BIOLOGICAL THERAPIES IN ORTHOPEDICS: APPLICATIONS OF PRP AND STEM CELLS IN MUSCULOSKELETAL INJURIES

Abstract

Musculoskeletal injuries are among the leading causes of pain, functional disability, and reduced quality of life, representing a relevant challenge for orthopedic clinical practice. In this scenario, biological therapies have emerged as innovative alternatives with the potential to promote tissue regeneration and modify the course of degenerative conditions. This study aimed to critically analyze the available scientific evidence on the use of platelet-rich plasma (PRP) and stem cells in the treatment of musculoskeletal injuries, with emphasis on their clinical applications, mechanisms of action, and therapeutic benefits. This is a narrative literature review with a descriptive and analytical approach, based on searches conducted in international databases, including PubMed/MEDLINE, Scopus, Web of Science, ScienceDirect, and Google Scholar. Studies published preferably between 2019 and 2026, focusing on orthopedics and regenerative medicine, were considered. The findings indicate that PRP acts mainly through the release of growth factors related to healing and inflammatory modulation, whereas mesenchymal stem cells exhibit broader regenerative potential associated with cellular differentiation and the secretion of paracrine mediators. Clinically, both therapies show promising results in pain reduction, functional improvement, and possible tissue regeneration, particularly in osteoarthritis and selected tendon injuries. However, methodological heterogeneity, lack of protocol standardization, and the limited number of long-term studies still restrict the consolidation of definitive recommendations. It is concluded that PRP and stem cells are promising tools in contemporary orthopedics, but they require greater scientific robustness to support the safe expansion of their clinical applicability (Le et al., 2019; Mende et al., 2024; Cao et al., 2025; Wang et al., 2026).