Comparison of Intra Articular Injection of Platelet Rich Plasma with Hyaluronic Acid in Osteoarthritic Knee.

Abstract

Objective: To compare the efficacy and safety of intra articular injection of Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) and Hyaluronic Acid (HA) in patients with osteoarthritic knee.
Methodology: This observational comparative study was carried out in the Anesthesia Department of the Abbassi Shaheed Hospital (ASH) from December, 2022 to May, 2023. There were 42 patients with confirmed diagnosis of Knee Joint Os-teoarthritis with eligibility criteria were enrolled. Twenty-one study participants were randomized to receive intra articular injection of PRP (Group A), while the remaining 21 study participants received HA (Group B). Socio demographics data, anthropometric measurement, disease duration data was collected. Importantly, the pain score using Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) and WOMAC a validated tool was used to clinically assess the patients at baseline and first- and third-month follow-up. SPSS version 21 was used to analyze data.
Results: There was no significant difference in mean age, gender, ethnicity, disease duration and disease grading among patients randomized to Group A or B. Moreover, no significant difference was identified between mean pain score and mean WOMAC score at baseline. Importantly, significant difference was observed in mean pain score and mean WOMAC score at first- and third-month follow-up. Importantly, significant decrease in mean pain score on VAS and mean WOMAC score was observed among patient randomized to receive Platelet Rich Plasma as compared to Hyaluronic Acid.
Conclusion: Patients with knee osteoarthritis treated with intra-articular injection of Platelet Rich Plasma showed im-proved clinical outcomes as compared to Hyaluronic Acid. This is evident from the significant decrease in mean pain score as well as mean WOMAC score at follow-ups on first and third month.
Keywords: Knee osteoarthritis, Platelet Rich Plasma, Hyaluronic Acid, Visual Analogue scale, WOMAC, pain.