Farooq Azam Khan, Maria Aslam, Muhammad Tahir Saeed.
Efficacy of Intra-articular Platelet-rich Plasma in patients of Knee Osteoarthritis.
J Sharif Med Dent Coll Jan ;5(1):36-40.

Objective: To evaluate the efficacy of autologous intra-articular platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injections in patients of knee osteoarthritis. Methodology: This was a prospective study carried out on 50 patients (10 males & 40 females) visiting the outpatient department of Orthopedic Surgery, Sharif Medical City Hospital, Lahore. The study was approved by the ethical committee of the institution. The patients fulfilling the inclusion criteria were asked to fill Western Ontario and McMaster Osteoarthritis criteria (WOMAC) questionnaire. Informed written consent was taken from the patients. Using aseptic techniques, PRP was injected intra-articularly in the affected knee. Three PRP injections were given intra-articularly at 1 week intervals. Patients were regularly followed up after 3 weeks, 6 weeks, 3 months, 6 months and 1 year of the last PRP injection. Each parameter of the WOMAC index was compared with the baseline score at each follow-up. The data obtained was analyzed using SPSS software version 25. Results: The mean age of the patients was 50.82+8.6 years; male to female ratio was 1:4. According to the Kellgren-Lawrence scale, 5(10%) patients had grade I, 16(32%) patients had grade II and 29(58%) patients had grade III osteoarthritis. The mean score of all WOMAC parameters improved significantly as compared to the baseline score before the treatment. There was a significant improvement in joint pain, stiffness and functional ability after PRP injections. Conclusion: Intra-articular injections of autologous platelet-rich plasma in osteoarthritic knee joint are effective in relieving joint pain & stiffness and improve the functional capacity in the patients ofknee osteoarthritis. Keywords: Platelet-rich plasma. Knee osteoarthritis. WOMAC index.

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