According to study results published online in the Clinical Journal of Sports Medicine, researchers from the Hospital for Special Surgery have demonstrated that platelet-rich plasma (PRP) is a promising treatment for knee osteoarthritis. PRP improved pain and function in knee osteoarthritis patients. In up to 73% of patients, PRP appeared to delay progression of the disease.
In the study, Hospital for Special Surgery researchers enrolled patients with early osteoarthritis symptoms. They were monitored for one year. Fifteen of the patients were evaluated at the study onset (baseline), one week, one month, three months, six months, and one year after PRP injection. At baseline and one year, knee cartilage was assessed using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), revealing no further cartilage loss. At one year, pain was decreased by nearly 56%. Function improved by 24%, while activity of daily living scores increased by about 56% at one year.
Related Articles:
- Platelet Rich Plasma Is Promising for Knee Osteoarthritis (November 2010)
- Clinical Trial Assesses Effectiveness of Platelet-Rich Plasma for Knee Osteoarthritis (May 2011)
- Knee Osteoarthritis - What You Need to Know
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