Role of platelet-rich plasma in early osteoarthritis of knee joint: Experience from a tertiary care center in Pakistan

Abstract

Purpose: Osteoarthritis is the most common articular disease. The aim of this study was to observe the outcome after intra-articular platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injection in our patients presenting with knee osteoarthritis. Methods: This study was conducted in Dow University of Health Sciences, Karachi, Pakistan, from December 2014 to December 2015. All patients between 35 years and 60 years of age diagnosed with grade I and II arthritis were included in the study. Three PRP injections were injected in the knees at 4-week interval. Patients were followed up in outpatient department (OPD) and were assessed for pain and physical activity associated with arthritis using the Western Ontario and McMaster University Arthritis Index (WOMAC) score at the time of induction in the study and at 6 months interval. Results: Two hundred fourteen patients with the mean age of 55.15 (±6.93) years were studied. Female to male ratio was 3:1. One hundred fifty-five patients were classified as having Kellgren–Lawrence grade 1 osteoarthritis, while 59 were grade 2. One hundred eighty-nine patients had clinical symptoms for less than 2 years and 25 for more than 2 years. Mean WOMAC score before the start of treatment was 83.05, and after 6 months, it was reduced to 38.84 which was statistically significant ( p = 0.000). WOMAC score was improved more in the subgroup with patients having symptoms less than 2 years ( p = 0.005). Three patients developed minor hyperemia which was managed conservatively with activity limitation and ice application, but none of the patient developed gross infection. Conclusion: The sequential use of PRP injection for the treatment of early osteoarthritis proved to be effective in our study.