Keywords
Abstract
Objective: Evaluate the outcome of intra-articular platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injections into the knee in patients with early osteoarthritis (OA) and determine whether cyclic dosing will affect the final outcome. Methods: This is a prospective, randomized study. It involved 93 patients (119 knees) with follow-up for at least 2 years. Fifty knees were randomly selected prior to the first injection; the second cycle is planned in 1 year. The cycle consisted of three injections, each performed at monthly intervals. Outcome was assessed using the Knee Trauma and Osteoarthritis Outcome Scale (KOOS), visual analogue scale (VAS), Tegner and Marx rating systems. Results were recorded before the first injection and then at 12, 18 and 24 months. Results: Over time, there was a significant improvement in all parameters compared to the value with pretreatment (p <0.001). After 12 months, both groups showed a similar and significant improvement. After 18 months, with the exception of KOOS (Symptoms) and Tegner's score, both groups showed a significant difference for all indicators in favor of patients who underwent the second cycle (p <0.001). After 2 years, the indicators decreased in both groups, but remained higher than the values with preliminary treatment. There was no significant difference between patient groups, despite the fact that patients undergoing both treatment cycles showed higher values for all indicators.