Role of triple injection of Platelet rich plasma as a therapeutic strategy for Osteoarthritis knee: A single blind prospective, hospital based study

Abstract

Background & Aim After evolving as a promising treatment option for tendinopathies & sports injuries, there have been encouraging reports of using platelet rich plasma (PRP) in the treatment of osteoarthritis (OA) knees.However still there is no general consensus on the number and frequency of PRP injections, which would lead to favourable outcome.The present study was undertaken to evaluate the role of 3 intraarticular (IA) PRP injections given 1 month apart, in patients of OA knee. Methods, Results & Conclusion Methods The present study included 50 patients (92 knees) consisting of 30 females and 20 males presenting to Teerthanker Mahaveer Medical College, between September 2017 to June 2018 having Kellgren-Lawrence (KL) grades I, II & III OA knees.3 intra articular injections of 3 ml PRP were given in the affected knee at an interval of 1 month each.Western Ontario and Mc Master Scores (WOMAC) and Visual analog scale (VAS) for pain were measured before the 1st injection (baseline score) and then before the 2nd and 3rd injection.Subsequent follow up was done at 3, 6& 12 months after the 3rd injection. Results 6 patients were lost to follow up.The mean age was 53.27years.The mean BMI (SD) was 31.8 (4.6).The mean baseline WOMAC score and VAS was 56.30 and 6.09 respectively.The mean WOMAC & VAS score was 48.87 & 5.24 before the 2nd injection and 38.99 & 4.19 before the 3rd injection respectively.The mean WOMAC score and VAS at 3, 6& 12 months of follow up were 31.01 & 3.431, 29.86 & 3.29, 20.16 & 2.09 respectively(Figure 1,2).The mean pain scores decreased at each follow-up (11.96 at baseline,3.02 at final follow up).The trend of other secondary WOMAC parameters, i.e. stiffness (3.78 at baseline,1.78 at final follow up) & physical function (35.74 at baseline,15.36 at final follow up) was noted to be similar to the pain(Figure 3).This shows statistically significant improvement in the studied variables (p Conclusion The results of our study highlight that 3 injections of PRP given at an interval of 1 month are both safe and effective as a modality of treatment for KL grade I & II & III OA knees.