Abstract

PLATELET-RICH PLASMA (PRP) VERSUS HYALURONIC ACID INJECTIONS FOR TREATMENT OF KNEE OSTEOARTHRITIS

Dr. Haider Abdulshareef Abdulsahib*, Dr. Ali Ahmed Hayyawi and Dr. Soran Ahmad Ramadan

ABSTRACT

Intra-articular platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injection has been found to be effective for treating osteoarthritis in patients from. countries; however, the safety and efficacy of PRP have not been sufficiently investigated in iraqi patients. The present study aimed to evaluate the safety and feasibility of intra-articular PRP injection in iraqi patients with knee osteoarthritis. PRP without white blood cells was prepared using a single-spin centrifuge (PRGF-Endoret; BTI Biotechnology Institute, Vitoria, Spain). A 6-mL PRP volume was injected in the knee joint three times at 1 week intervals. All patients were prospectively evaluated before intervention and at 1, 3, and 6 months after the treatment. Adverse events, the Visual Analog Scale (VAS) pain score, iraqi Knee Osteoarthritis Measure (JKOM) score and Iraqi Orthopedic Association score were evaluated. Ten patients (all women; average age, 60.6 years) were treated. Only minor adverse events after injection were noted, and symptoms resolved within 48 hours after the injection. The average VAS pain scores were 71.6 mm and 18.4 mm at baseline and the 6-month follow-up, respectively (P < 0.05). At the 6-month follow-up, 80% of patients had a decrease in the VAS pain score of 50% or more. The average JKOM scores were 35.2 and 14.3 at baseline and at the 1-month follow-up, respectively (P < 0.05). Intra-articular PRP injection likely represents a safe treatment option for Iraqi patients with mild-to-moderate knee osteoarthritis, and has the potential to relieve pain for up to 6 months, but further study is needed to verify the efficacy.

Keywords: platelet-rich plasma, knee osteoarthritis, treatment safety, intra-articular injection.