Platelet-Rich Plasma for the Management of Hip and Knee Osteoarthritis

Overview

Journal Curr Rheumatol Rep

Publisher Current Science

Specialty Rheumatology

Date 2017 Apr 8

PMID 28386761

Citations 95

Authors

Kim L Bennell

David J Hunter

Kade L Paterson

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Purpose Of Review: Knee and hip osteoarthritis (OA) are major public health problems worldwide causing pain, disability and impaired quality of life. This narrative paper discusses platelet-rich plasma (PRP) as a treatment for hip and knee OA, with a focus on evidence from randomised controlled trials (RCTs).

Recent Findings: Since the first RCT of PRP in 2012, there has been 15 RCTs in knee OA and three in hip OA, mostly comparing PRP to another intra-articular injection therapy, hyaluronic acid. All studies are of low to moderate methodological quality and use variable PRP protocols. In general, results showed that PRP is a safe treatment with potential to provide symptomatic benefit for OA at least in the short term (up to 12 months). Younger patients with less severe disease may be more responsive. There are no RCTs investigating the effects of PRP on OA structural changes. No definitive conclusions can be made about the effects of PRP in OA given methodological concerns and considerable heterogeneity between studies. Further high-quality research is needed to establish the clinical and cost-effectiveness of PRP, the patients most likely to benefit and the optimal PRP protocol.

Citing Articles

Comparison of hyaluronic acid and platelet-rich plasma in knee osteoarthritis: a systematic review.

Xu H, Shi W, Liu H, Chai S, Xu J, Tu Q BMC Musculoskelet Disord. 2025; 26(1):236.

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Intra-Articular Hyaluronic Acid for Knee Osteoarthritis: A Systematic Umbrella Review.

Glinkowski W, Tomaszewski W J Clin Med. 2025; 14(4).

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Bone Marrow Aspirate Concentrate Injections for the Treatment of Knee Osteoarthritis: A Systematic Review of Randomized Controlled Trials.

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Factors affecting the therapeutic effects of multiple intra-articular injections of platelet-rich-plasma for knee osteoarthritis.

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