Does intraarticular PRP injection improve function, pain and quality of life in patients with OA of knee? Case control study of 50 patients

Knee osteoarthritis (OA) is a common debilitating chronic disease. Up to one in 5 people over the age of 45 suffer from knee OA and typical symptoms include significant pain, restricted mobility and difficulty to indulge in activities of daily living. Other than knee replacement, no other reliable treatment exists to manage symptomatic knee OA.

Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) is a form of Prolotherapy and is increasingly used to manage OA patients, although the evidence is largely anecdotal. We conducted a case-control study to assess efficacy of PRP comparing it for pain relief in OA Knee.

We studied two groups of 25 patients each. One group of 25 patients was given therapeutic exercises and Acetaminophen for pain relief (control group). Second group of 25 patients (PRP group) was injected with two courses of intra-articular injection of Leucocyte rich PRP with interval of 6 weeks. WOMAC (Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index) was recorded pre-intervention, at six months & one year post-intervention in both the groups. Change scores were assessed for statistical significance.

No compilations were noted in both groups and none of the cases needed further surgical intervention during the follow up period. Mean changes of total WOMAC, in PRP group showed significantly better improvement than control group (P < 0.05) at all time intervals.

This study showed that intra articular PRP knee injection combined with therapeutic exercise can be more effective in pain reduction and improvement of stiffness and quality of life, compared with therapeutic exercise alone.