Comparison of a Novel Periarticular Injection Technique with Intra-articular Injection of Platelet-rich Plasma for the Treatment of Osteoarthritis Joint Pain in Dogs

Abstract

Canine osteoarthritis (OA) is characterized by degenerative changes in the joints resulting in pain and lameness. The study objective was to compare treatment of OA with a novel peri-articular injection (aqua-acupuncture/aqua-AP) technique using platelet-rich plasma (PRP), with standard intra-articular (IA) injection. Sixteen dogs diagnosed with OA in appendicular skeletal joints were enrolled and assigned to Test (n=8) or Control (n=8) treatment groups. Each subject received an injection at Week 0 and again at Week 4. Treatment outcomes assessed included goniometry (flexion and extension), infrared thermal imaging (IRTI), lameness grading scores and Canine Brief Pain Inventory (CBPI) questionnaire. The flexion and extension assessments had no statistically significant changes at 4 or 8-week assessment. Significant score reductions (improvement) were observed in both groups (p<0.001) for pain severity (2, 4, 8 weeks) and activity interference (2, 4, 8 weeks) for CBPI data with no significant difference between study groups concluded (p>0.05). Infrared thermal imaging demonstrated statistically significant (p<0.001), decreased temperature in the inflamed joints for both injection techniques, however, aqua-AP treatment was statistically significant at both 4 and 8 weeks while IA technique didn’t reach significance until 8 weeks post-treatment. Lameness scores had significant improvements at 4 and 8 weeks with no significant difference between groups. The findings suggest that PurePRP® treatment delivered with either the proposed aqua-AP or the standard IA injection may improve pain and thermal outcomes (decrease joint inflammation) with more rapid thermal improvement for aqua-AP. There were no clear effects on goniometry measurements. Further investigations with larger scale trials are warranted.