Platelet rich plasma (PRP) in the surgical treatment of Haglund's syndrome: the use of PRP membranes as an intra-operative local adjuvant

Aim Haglund's syndrome may be responsible for chronic pain in the ankle and hindfoot. Although numerous therapeutic approaches have been described in the literature, to this date no consensus over a surgical treatment has been established. We report our experience in the treatment of Haglund's syndrome and pre-insertional calcifications of the Achilles tendon using an open surgical approach and platelet rich plasma (PRP) membranes as a local adjuvant. Methods The study retrospectively evaluated patients with Haglund syndrome treated with a direct posterior access, Achilles tendon split, bursectomy, resection of the heel deformity and topical administration of PRP membranes. After surgery, a standardized rehabilitation protocol was performed. The preoperative and postoperative functionalities of the foot and ankle were assessed using the American Orthopaedic Foot & Ankle Society (AOFAS) score. Intraoperative and postoperative complications were recorded. Results Twenty consecutive patients were included. The mean follow-up was 23 months. No patient had major intraoperative or postoperative complications. After the surgery, the mean AOFAS score increased from 44.1 to 92.0, resulting in a statistically significant increase in patient functionality after the treatment (p=0.001). Conclusion Our results suggest that an open surgical approach consisting of a combination of bursectomy, resection of the calcaneal deformity, and topical administration of PRP membranes may be effective for the treatment of Haglund's disease.