PRP Effectiveness in Knee Osteoarthritis

Comparative Efficacy of Two Platelet-Rich Plasma Treatments For Knee Osteoarthritis: A Double-Blind Randomized Controlled Trial

The aim of our study is to determine the effects of intra-articular Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP) prepared with two different techniques on pain intensity, functional status, quality of life, functional balance and femoral cartilage thickness in patients with knee osteoarthritis.

Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most common form of chronic joint disease. Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP) is an injection therapy used to treat chronic, painful musculoskeletal conditions, including knee OA. In this prospective, randomized controlled, double blind, interventional study, out of 154 patients who applied to the physical medicine and rehabilitation department, 96 patients who met the eligibility criteria were divided into the pure PRP group without anticoagulant (n=32), amber PRP group (n=32), and saline group (n=32). A home exercise program for knee osteoarthritis will be provided to all three groups, and the program will be followed by weekly phone calls. During the follow-up period, patients will be asked to continue their current medical treatments and not to changes to their activities of daily living. Participants are going to be evaluated using visual analog scale (VAS) scores, the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC), and a numeric rating scale for quality of life (NRS) baseline and at 1, 3, and 6-month follow-up periods, time Up and Go (TUG) test at the baseline and at 3 and 6 months after treatment, and changes in femoral cartilage thickness by ultrasound measurement at the baseline and at 6 months after treatment

Inclusion Criteria:

• Patients with chronic symptomatic knee pain between the ages of 30 and 75 years
• Presence of Kellgren-Lawrence stage 2-3 osteoarthritis on current anterior-posterior knee radiographs
• The ability to walk independently

Exclusion Criteria:

• Previous treatment with an autologous blood product or stem cell preparation
• Severe knee effusion
• Concomitant severe meniscus or ligament injury
• Recent cancer or other tumors
• History of knee surgery
• Previous diagnosis of a neuromuscular, infectious, or inflammatory disease
• Bleeding disorders and/or use of warfarin
• Body mass index above 40 kg/m²
• Cardiac or systemic diseases that could affect participation in the exercise program