Web-based portrayal of platelet-rich plasma injections for orthopedic therapy.

OBJECTIVE

Previous studies on Internet sites indicate that some Web-based material on sport-related orthopedic disorders is biased, misleading, and conveying inaccurate health messages. Our hypothesis was that Web-based content on platelet-rich plasma (PRP) therapy from commercial sites is frequently imbalanced, biased, and incorrect.

DESIGN

In this descriptive epidemiological study, an Internet search was performed using the search engine Google using keywords "platelet-rich plasma" and "platelet-rich plasma therapy." Exclusion criteria were medical or scientific journal, encyclopedia, or medical reference articles.

SETTING

Publicly available Internet resources were examined.

PARTICIPANTS

Web-based resources identified through an Internet search engine.

MAIN OUTCOMES MEASURES: Using content analysis, we assessed each reference for factual accuracy, themes depicted, opinions, and recommendations.

RESULTS

Our search yielded a total of 44 articles, of which 26 unique articles met the inclusion criteria. Twenty of 26 articles (77%) made inappropriate statements regarding evidence, treatment, efficacy, or safety of PRP injections. Twenty-three articles (88%) were medically imbalanced, discussing only perspectives of physicians favoring the treatment. Only 8 articles (31%) discussed alternative treatment options. Twenty-two articles (85%) used individual dramatized patient experiences to demonstrate the effectiveness of PRP. Nineteen articles (73%) made unsubstantiated promises regarding health outcomes of PRP injections. Many accessed Internet sites were from medical practices or institutions where PRP therapy was used.

CONCLUSIONS

Our data indicate that some Web-based references to PRP therapy are biased and inaccurate. We are concerned that some readers will misinterpret such easily available, but poorly controlled, information, potentially leading to use of unproven therapies.