Summary

Successful, minimally invasive treatment for grade I II III osteoarthritis thereby improving functional outcome and reducing pain intensity

Abstract

Objective

To clinically assess the efficacy of Platelet rich
Plasma (PRP) in improving the functional movement in
knee osteoarthritis.

Methods

This prospective case series, on 89 patients,
was studied in Sindh Rangers Hospital, Karachi, Pakistan
from 1st October 2018 to 31st March 2019. The analysis
involved all patients aged 30-65 years diagnosed with
grade 1, 2 and 3 arthritis. PRP was administered in three
doses one month apart, and patients were evaluated for
outcome measures after the third month of the third dose
of PRP. To measure functional improvement in knee
osteoarthritis, the range of motion (ROM), McMaster
University Osteoarthritis index (WOMAC), Western
Ontario, and Visual analogue scale (VAS) were used.

Results

PRP was infused into 89 patients, with a mean
age of 61.24±8.92 years. The average pre-treatment
WOMAC score was 37.0 ±2.9, and it was lowered to 18.8±
5.2 after PRP (p<0.02). The pre-treatment VAS was 8.42
±0.84, and it was reduced to 4.91±2.12, indicating mild to
moderate pain. Our PRP therapy was appreciated by 63
(70.07%) patients, while 17 (19.1%) were only partly
satisfied. However, 9 (10.1%) patients were dissatisfied.

Conclusion

The results of this case series showed that
the use of PRP injections for treating osteoarthritis (grade
1 to 3) proved to be successful in terms of improving
functional outcomes and reducing pain intensity.