a Single Intraarticular Injection of PRP for Early Knee OA

Efficacy of a Single Intraarticular Injection of Platelet-Rich Plasma for the Treatment of Early Knee Osteoarthritis

This study aimed to investigate the efficacy of a single intraarticular injection of PRP for the treatment of early knee OA.

Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) has been reported to be effective for the treatment of knee osteoarthritis (OA). This study aimed to investigate the efficacy of a single intraarticular injection of PRP for the treatment of early knee OA.

In a prospective trial with 6-month follow-up, patients with early knee OA were recruited and received a single intraarticular PRP injection. Several outcomes were measured.

Inclusion Criteria:

• aged 20-70 years
• symptomatic knee OA with pain for at least 6 months despite conservative treatment such as analgesics, NSAIDs and/or physical therapy
• average knee pain of at least 30 mm on a 100-mm visual analog (VAS) scale
• grade 1 or 2 knee OA according to the Kellgren-Lawrence grading system based on -radiographs taken within the previous 6 months
• Radiological evidence of bilateral knee OA was accepted if global pain VAS in the contralateral knee was less than 30 mm.

Exclusion Criteria:

• previous orthopedic surgery on the spine or lower limbs
• disabling OA of either hip or foot
• knee instability or marked valgus/varus deformity
• history of severe knee trauma; intraarticular injections into the knee in the past 6 months
• infections or skin diseases around the target knee
• women ascertained or suspected pregnancy or lactating
• presence of malignancy, hematological disease, collagen vascular diseases, or autoimmune diseases;
• therapy with anticoagulants or anti-aggregating agent
• serious medical conditions that would interfere with the assessments during the study.