IMPROVING FUNCTION IN KNEE OSTEOARTHRITIS WITH PLATELET-RICH PLASMA THERAPY: A FUNCTIONAL OUTCOME EVALUATION

Abstract

Objective: Osteoarthritis is a chronic and degenerative disease that commonly affects the knee joint. The effectiveness of using PRP injections in the knee joint for managing osteoarthritis symptoms, which include pain, disability, deformity, and reduced quality of life, is being studied. Methods: This is a two-year prospective study conducted between January 2019 and December 2020 at the Government General Hospital in Kurnool. The study focused on the management of osteoarthritis knee in 60 patients who received 3 ml autologous intra-articular platelet-rich plasma injections, with their pain, joint stiffness, and joint mobility being evaluated using the WOMAC score. The majority of participants were middle-aged women with grade KL 2 and 3 osteoarthritis knee. Results: The study included 60 cases with KL grade II (28 cases) and grade III (32 cases) of knee osteoarthritis. The pretreatment WOMAC score for KL grade II was 56.11±6.36, which showed significant improvement to 50.76±7.6 (p=0.000) at 2 w, 50.76±7.6 (p=0.001) at one month, 26.97±3.47 (p=0.001) at 3 mo, and 22.11±2.99 (p=0.001) at 6-month follow-up. Similarly, for KL grade III, the pretreatment WOMAC score was 59.21±5.63, which improved significantly to55.76±7.6 (p=0.000) at 2 w, 48.79±5.42 (p=0.001) at one month, 36.46±4.36 (p=0.001) at 3 mo, and 32.12±2.66 (p=0.001) at 6-month follow-up. Conclusion: PRP injection is a safe and cost-effective alternative for treating knee osteoarthritis, leading to pain relief and an enhanced quality of life, especially in the initial stages. Not only does PRP provide immediate relief, but it also results in gradual improvements over time. Overall, PRP is a viable option for individuals seeking alternative treatments for knee osteoarthritis.