Evidence map›Paper›PMID 33270711›Full record

SynthesisPloS one2020

The effect of platelet-rich plasma on the fusion rate and clinical outcome of spinal fusion surgery: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Ying-Feng Cai, Tian-Zhao Tian, Li-Ye Chen, Bao-Xin Liu, Jian-Peng Zhou, Min Shi, Hao-Dong Liang

Open access · goldAbstract readMeta-AnalysisSystematic Review
In one paragraph

Synthesis in PloS one, 2020. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 4 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
4citing papers in PubMed
0.9field-weighted citation impact, top 25% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

4 citing papers in PubMed, 5 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. Bone Growth Stimulators to Enhance Spinal Fusion Outcomes.Spine surgery and related research · 2026
    Review
  2. Effect of platelet-rich plasma on the acceleration of graft bone catabolism in lateral lumbar interbody fusion in a short-term assessment.Journal of artificial organs : the official journal of the Japanese Society for Artificial Organs · 2024
    Article
  3. Article
  4. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

7 authors at 1 institution in 1 country.

Ying-Feng CaiDepartment of Orthopaedics, The Affiliated TCM Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, People's Republic of China.
Tian-Zhao TianDepartment of Orthopaedics, The Affiliated TCM Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, People's Republic of China.
Li-Ye ChenDepartment of Orthopaedics, The Affiliated TCM Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, People's Republic of China.
Bao-Xin LiuDepartment of Orthopaedics, The Affiliated TCM Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, People's Republic of China.
Jian-Peng ZhouDepartment of Orthopaedics, The Affiliated TCM Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, People's Republic of China.
Min ShiDepartment of Orthopaedics, The Affiliated TCM Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, People's Republic of China.
Hao-Dong LiangDepartment of Orthopaedics, The Affiliated TCM Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, People's Republic of China.ORCID 0000-0001-7612-3742
Guangzhou Medical University · CN

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundPlatelet-rich plasma (PRP) is widely used in many orthopedic surgeries and spinal disease treatments; however, the effect of PRP on spinal fusion remains controversial. QUESTIONS/PURPOSES: To assess the fusion rate and clinical results of PRP compared with non-PRP administration in the treatment of spinal fusion with regard to decreasing pain and improving healing and function. PATIENTS AND

methodsStudies comparing PRP to non-PRP treatment with respect to the fusion rate and clinical outcome in patients who underwent spinal fusion surgery were included.

resultThree randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and 7 prospective cohort studies were identified. The spinal fusion rate was not significantly different between the groups in all RCTs or cohort studies at the final follow-up. In comparison, PRP significantly reduced pain after surgery as evaluated in the RCT analysis and the complication rate did not differ significantly between the two groups.

conclusionAccording to the available studies, PRP does not contribute to the union rate, relieve pain or increase the complication rate in spinal fusion surgery. As clinical heterogeneity exists in these studies, further large, well-designed RCTs that focus on the standard assessment of PRP are needed.

Indexed as

Platelet-Rich PlasmaHumansPainSpinal DiseasesSpinal FusionTreatment OutcomeWound Healing

Identifiers

PMID33270711
PMCPMC7714170
OpenAlexW3109365866

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.