Usefulness of autologous platelet-rich plasma in the treatment of knee osteoarthritis

Abstract

Introduction: Platelet-rich plasma is a novel therapeutic tool that, due to its usefulness in pathological processes that is elusive to conventional treatments, and its apparent innocuousness, make it a seductive alternative to consider in the therapeutic arsenal for the treatment of knee osteoarthritis. Objective: To evaluate the usefulness of autologous platelet-rich plasma in the treatment of knee osteoarthritis. Methods: A descriptive and prospective study was carried out in the Rheumatology service of the Hermanos Ameijeiras Hospital, from August 2013 to August 2015. 93 patients with knee osteoarthritis with grade II or III joint damage without clinical improvement with treatment were included. pharmacological and conventional rehabilitation, treated with platelet-rich plasma administered by intra-articular injection. Results: The mean age was 60.9 (± 7.5) years with a predominance of females (65.2%). Smoking and non-intellectual work activity were the most frequent risk factors, 68.5% and 55.1%, respectively. The patients treated with platelet-rich plasma presented significant improvement (<0.001), since 80.7% achieved more than 50% improvement. Clinical improvement was achieved with the use of platelet-rich plasma concentrate in patients where therapeutic arthroscopy was not effective. Conclusions: The use of platelet-rich plasma is promising as an effective treatment for osteoarthritis of the knee, with better results than other options.