Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) is a promising treatment for knee cartilage repair, as it leverages the natural healing properties of blood to reduce pain, inflammation and improve joint function. Laboratory studies have shown that PRP can modulate repair and regeneration of repaired cartilage within the joint, causing stem cells to migrate to the damaged area and proliferate. It also releases growth factors, such as transforming growth factor beta (TGF-B), which has very positive effects on cartilage growth. Animal models have also shown evidence of cartilage growth with PRP.
Therefore, it has been thought for some time that PRP can help patients protect their own knee cartilage. As long as these agents are intact, it can move freely because the cartilage acts as a shock absorbing system. However, any damage or tear in this tissue can cause the bones to touch each other and cause pain, inflammation, and difficulty moving. PRP treatments for cartilage repair may be one of the most effective solutions. It is essential that validated PRP preparation methodologies be considered in future clinical trials evaluating the effectiveness of PRP treatment for cartilage repair.
There were no significant differences between the triple application of PRP and the single application of PRP in the short-term healing effect. Clinical Outcome and Predictive Risk Factor for Failure of Autologous PRP Injections for Low to Moderate Knee Osteoarthritis. Prior to a PRP recommendation, your provider may have spoken, suggested, or injected hyaluronic acid. In other words, there are many reasons why the PRP will work, there are many reasons why the PRP will not work. Minimal clinically significant difference and patient-acceptable symptom status in patients with knee osteoarthritis treated with PRP injection. We explained to these people that their treatment probably didn't work because the single injection of PRP didn't resolve knee instability.
To review, patients who received the combination of PRP and hyaluronic acid performed better than injections of hyaluronic acid alone. The goals of doctors and patients in offering PRP injections into the knee are simply to help the patient with pain, inflammation, improve function, and possibly help the patient avoid knee surgery and, in some cases, a knee replacement. Patients with knee osteoarthritis who received intra-articular injections of PRP had the best overall success compared to steroids, hyaluronic acid and placebo at 3, 6 and 12 months of follow-up. There are several formulations of PRP used for cartilage repair, such as inactivated PRP, activated PRP (PRGF or release) and fibrin clots. To explain this, researchers are trying to establish a scoring system based on standard scoring systems to determine a level at which PRP injections for knee pain could be considered “significantly successful”. PRP injections do not have a Medicare reimbursement and are usually provided at an out-of-pocket cost to patients (exceptions apply).