Volume 12, Issue 4 (Autumn-In Press 2025)
JROS 2025, 12(4): 0-0 |
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Torkaman A, Fathi M, Zareie B, Safaee O. Comparison of Clinical Outcomes of Intra-articular Injection of Platelet-Rich Plasma Versus Hyaluronic Acid in Patients with Knee Osteoarthritis: A Systematic Review. JROS 2025; 12 (4)
URL: http://jros.iums.ac.ir/article-1-2311-en.html
URL: http://jros.iums.ac.ir/article-1-2311-en.html
1- Bone and Joint Reconstruction Research Center, Department of Orthopedics, School of Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
Abstract: (17 Views)
Background: Intra-articular injections, such as platelet-rich plasma (PRP) and hyaluronic acid (HA), are widely used to manage symptoms of knee osteoarthritis (OA). However, their effectiveness and superiority in patients with degenerative meniscal tears remain controversial. This systematic review aimed to compare the clinical outcomes of leukocyte-rich PRP (LR-PRP) and HA in patients with knee OA.
Methods: We searched PubMed/Medline, Scopus, Embase, and the Cochrane Library databases using relevant MeSH terms, following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines, to identify articles published between January 2010 and January 2026. Finally, eight studies, including randomized controlled trials and systematic reviews, were included in the qualitative analysis.
Results: Both LR-PRP and HA improved pain, joint function, and duration of therapeutic effect. However, PRP, particularly leukocyte-poor (LP-PRP) formulations, showed a tendency toward reduced reinjection requirements and greater long-term functional improvement. Both treatments were safe and well-tolerated; however, PRP demonstrated potential for more sustained clinical effects.
Conclusion: Based on moderate-to-high-certainty studies, the effects of LR-PRP and HA on clinical outcomes in patients with knee OA were similar. In the long term, PRP may be associated with a reduced need for reinjections and further improvement in functional outcomes. Due to variations in PRP preparation protocols and follow-up durations, it is recommended to conduct large-scale, long-term randomized controlled trials with standardized protocols to better determine the efficacy and optimize treatment strategies.
Methods: We searched PubMed/Medline, Scopus, Embase, and the Cochrane Library databases using relevant MeSH terms, following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines, to identify articles published between January 2010 and January 2026. Finally, eight studies, including randomized controlled trials and systematic reviews, were included in the qualitative analysis.
Results: Both LR-PRP and HA improved pain, joint function, and duration of therapeutic effect. However, PRP, particularly leukocyte-poor (LP-PRP) formulations, showed a tendency toward reduced reinjection requirements and greater long-term functional improvement. Both treatments were safe and well-tolerated; however, PRP demonstrated potential for more sustained clinical effects.
Conclusion: Based on moderate-to-high-certainty studies, the effects of LR-PRP and HA on clinical outcomes in patients with knee OA were similar. In the long term, PRP may be associated with a reduced need for reinjections and further improvement in functional outcomes. Due to variations in PRP preparation protocols and follow-up durations, it is recommended to conduct large-scale, long-term randomized controlled trials with standardized protocols to better determine the efficacy and optimize treatment strategies.
Keywords: Knee osteoarthritis, Platelet-rich plasma (PRP), Hyaluronic acid (HA), Intra-articular injection, Joint function
Type of Study: Review Paper |
Subject:
Knee surgery
Received: 2026/02/23 | Accepted: 2026/02/23 | Published: 2025/11/18
Received: 2026/02/23 | Accepted: 2026/02/23 | Published: 2025/11/18
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