Efficacy of intra-articular autologous platelet rich plasma injection in primary knee osteoarthritis: A quasi-experimental study.

Abstract

To observe the efficacy of platelet rich plasma on pain improvement in knee osteoarthritis patients and to explore the impact of various facotrs on pain reduction with such a treatment. The quasi-experimental study was conducted at the Armed Forces Institute of Rehabilitation Medicine, Rawalpindi, Pakistan, from October 2017 to April 2018 and comprised patients with primary knee osteoarthritis. The sample was sub-grouped into "normal", "overweight" and "obese" on the basis of body mass index. Two age-based sub-groups were also formed at ≤ 60 years and >60 years. Three injections of calcium gluconate activated 2.5ml platelet rich plasma were given in the knees at an interval of two weeks each. The pain score was calculated using the numerical rating scale at the 6th week. Data was analysed using SPSS 20. Of the 50 patients, 26(52%) were females and 24(48%) were males. The overall mean age was 59.6±9.6 years (range: 42-75 years), with 22(44%) aged ≤ 60 years. There were 21(42%) patients who were overweight, 7(14%) had normal weight and 22(44%) were obese. There was significant pain reduction post-treatment compared to the baseline (p<0.001). The reduction in pain was not significantly related to gender, age, knee osteoarthritis grade, or body mass index (p>0.05). Platelet rich plasma significantly improved pain in knee osteoarthritis patients regradless of all age, gender, grade and body mass index.