Thursday, January 21, 2010

Platelet-Rich Plasma and Arthritis

A recently published PRP study from the Rizzoli Orthopedic Institute in Bologna, Italy, found platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injected in knees with degenerative cartilage lesions (arthritis), can improve knee function.

The study, published in October 2009 by Kon et al, consisted of 100 patients and 115 knees affected by chronic degeneration. 150-ml of venous blood was twice centrifuge. 3 PRP units of 5-ml each were for the intra-articular injections. Patients were evaluated clinically at the beginning and the end of the treatment and at both 6 and 12 months following treatment. IKDC, objective and subjective, and EQ and VAS were used for clinical evaluation. Importance of sex, age, BMI and grade of OA was evaluated statistically.

The statistical results show steady improvement up to 6 months following treatment. The results at the 12 month follow-up were significantly worse, although higher than the basal level.

These results indicate intra-articular PRP knee injections produce favorable results on degenerative cartilage lesions.

Click here for summary of study.

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