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Review reveals efficacy of intra-articular injections of hyaluronic acid, corticosteroid and PRP for knee OA
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Researchers who compared the efficacy of intra-articular hyaluronic acid, corticosteroid and platelet-rich plasma injections for the treatment of knee osteoarthritis found good results for the drugs. However, more research is needed to determine the utility of platelet-rich plasma [PRP] injections, according to this study.
“Three to five weekly intra-articular injections of [hyaluronic acid] HA are recommendable in patients with knee osteoarthritis (OA) before surgical treatment,” the researchers stated in the abstract. “[Corticosteroid] CS injections have a very short effect. The efficacy and duration of [platelet-rich plasma] PRP injections require further studies.”
The researchers obtained the results of 14 studies analyzing HA, PRP and CS from the MedLine and Cochrane Library databases. They found that HA injections administered three to five times weekly generally reduce pain from 5 weeks to 13 weeks, with some patients reporting pain relief up to 1 year. Pain relief for patients who received CS injections lasted 2 weeks to 3 weeks, the researchers found.
Although the pain relief after PRP injection varied, the researchers stated that PRP potentially could perform better than HA injections in younger patients, according to the abstract.
Disclosure: Rodriguez-Merchan has no relevant financial disclosures.
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