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Short-term outcomes of platelet-rich plasma injection for treatment of osteoarthritis of the knee

  • Knee
  • Published:
Knee Surgery, Sports Traumatology, Arthroscopy Aims and scope

Abstract

Purpose

To compare the clinical outcomes of osteoarthritis indices (WOMAC and Lequesne scores) and adverse events in the treatment of osteoarthritis (OA) of the knee with platelet-rich plasma (PRP) versus hyaluronic acid (HA) or placebo.

Methods

A systematic review and meta-regression were performed to compare outcomes between PRP injections versus HA or placebo. Relevant randomized control trials were identified from Medline and Scopus from date of inception to 13 August 2015.

Results

Nine of 551 studies were eligible; 6, 5, 5, 5, 2, 2, 2 and 7 studies were included in pooling of WOMAC total, pain, stiffness and function scores, Lequesne score, IKDC score, EQ-VAS score and adverse events in OA knee patients, respectively. The PRP injections had −15.4 (95 % CI −28.6, −2.3, p = 0.021), lower mean WOMAC total scores, and 8.83 (95 % CI 5.88, 11.78, p < 0.001), 7.37 (95 % CI 4.33, 10.05, p = 0.021) higher mean IKDC and EQ-VAS scores when compared to HA injections. However, PRP injections had no significant differences in WOMAC pain, stiffness and function scores, as well as Lequesne score and adverse events when compared to HA or placebo.

Conclusion

In short-term outcomes (≤1 year), PRP injection has improved functional outcomes (WOMAC total scores, IKDC score and EQ-VAS) when compared to HA and placebo, but has no statistically significant difference in adverse events when compared to HA and placebo. This study suggests that PRP injection is more efficacious than HA injection and placebo in reducing symptoms and improving function and quality of life. It has the potential to be the treatment of choice in patients with mild-to-moderate OA of the knee who have not responded to conventional treatment.

Level of evidence

I.

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Acknowledgments

All authors declare no funding sources or sponsor involvement in the study design, collection, analysis and interpretation of the data, writing of the manuscript and in submission of the manuscript for publication.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Orthopedics Department, Lerdsin General Hospital, Bangkok, Thailand

    Wichan Kanchanatawan

  2. Orthopedics Department, Police General Hospital, Bangkok, Thailand

    Alisara Arirachakaran & Peerapong Piyapittayanun

  3. Orthopedics Department, College of Sports Science and Technology, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand

    Kornkit Chaijenkij

  4. Orthopedics Department, Queen Savang Vadhana Memorial Hospital, Bangkok, Thailand

    Niti Prasathaporn

  5. Orthopedics Department, Srinakarin Hospital, Khonkaen, Thailand

    Manusak Boonard

  6. Section for Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Faculty of Medicine, Ramathibodi Hospital, Rama VI Road, Rachatevi, Bangkok, 10400, Thailand

    Jatupon Kongtharvonskul

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  1. Wichan Kanchanatawan
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Correspondence to Jatupon Kongtharvonskul.

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Kanchanatawan, W., Arirachakaran, A., Chaijenkij, K. et al. Short-term outcomes of platelet-rich plasma injection for treatment of osteoarthritis of the knee. Knee Surg Sports Traumatol Arthrosc 24, 1665–1677 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00167-015-3784-4

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