PRP vs Hyaluronic Acid Injections for Knee Osteoarthritis Treatment

This study focuses on treating knee osteoarthritis, a condition that's becoming more common due to an aging population and increased sports participation. The goal is to reduce pain and improve knee function, helping patients maintain their daily activities. Currently, treatments include painkillers, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), and if these aren't effective, intra-articular injections. One such injection uses hyaluronic acid, recommended by the American College of Rheumatology and the European League against Rheumatism. However, its effectiveness varies and often doesn't last beyond six months. Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) is another option being explored. It's a natural concentrate of growth factors that could stimulate cartilage repair, potentially offering an alternative to hyaluronic acid for knee osteoarthritis that doesn't respond to oral drugs. The study involves 80 patients with symptomatic knee osteoarthritis. It's a comparative, single-center, prospective, randomized, double-blind study, meaning neither the patients nor the researchers know who receives which treatment. The two treatments being compared are intra-articular injections of either platelet-rich plasma (PRP) or hyaluronic acid. The study's main outcome is to evaluate if PRP is not inferior to hyaluronic acid in improving knee function. This is measured using the WOMAC functional score, which assesses changes in knee function before and three months after treatment.