Effects of Intra-Articular Platelet Rich Plasma on Clinical Outcomes in Knee Osteoarthritis

Abstract

Background and Aim: With increasing frequency, platelet-rich plasma (PRP) preparations have been used to treat
cartilage lesions to regenerate tissue homeostasis and retard the progression of knee osteoarthritis (OA). The aim
of our research was to study the effectiveness of intra-articular PRP injections in early-stage OA patients and to
evaluate the clinical outcome and QOL at 6 months.
Material and Methods: Present study was conducted on 80 patients at tertiary care institute of Gujarat for the
Period of 1 year. Intraarticular administration of PRP was done by injecting 5 mL of platelet concentrate in the
supra-patellar pouch through supero-lateral approach with a 22-gauge needle. The patients were followed up
for reduction in pain, reduction in stiffness and improvement in physical function in accordance with WOMAC
scoring system on day 0 and at the end of 6th week, 3rd and 6th months and QOL in accordance with WHOQOL
questionnaire before PRP therapy and at the end of 6th month.
Results: In our study of 80 patients 26 had very poor, 23 had poor and 1 had neither poor nor good QOL before
PRP injection evaluated by WHOQOL. At 6 months post PRP therapy 5 had very good, 59 had good, 15 had
neither good nor poor and 1 had poor QOL which showed highly significant improvement in QOL.
Conclusion: Intra-articular injection of autologous PRP is a safe, cheap, easy to prepare and use, and has a
therapeutic role in early knee OA. Hence, PRP therapy can be used in management of early stage knee OA to
provide relief from symptoms and to improve QOL with negligible complication, low cost and ultimately with
good results.