Published online Oct 18, 2022. doi: 10.5312/wjo.v13.i10.911
Peer-review started: June 7, 2022
First decision: August 4, 2022
Revised: August 18, 2022
Accepted: September 12, 2022
Article in press: September 12, 2022
Published online: October 18, 2022
Processing time: 132 Days and 4.2 Hours
The current management for knee osteoarthritis (OA) is not able to stop disease progression, particularly in Kellgren-Lawrence (KL) grade 3 and 4 OA. Thus, alternative therapeutic options are needed to prevent the progression of joint damage in OA and delay the need for knee arthroplasty.
Alternative therapies for knee OA are needed that can prevent disease progression. Such treatment is expected to increase quality of life and prevent or delay the need for arthroplasty.
To investigate whether adjunctive treatment with platelet-rich plasma (PRP) and hyaluronic acid (HA) after arthroscopic debridement provides better outcomes then arthroscopic debridement alone.
This was a retrospective cohort study using medical record data. The Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC) score and its sub-scores was used as the outcome parameter. The data were analyzed using the paired t-test, one-way analysis of variance, and post hoc least significant difference test.
Adjunctive PRP or HA after arthroscopic debridement was not superior to arthroscopic debridement alone in improving knee OA symptoms. However, adjunctive PRP resulted in improvement of pain symptoms. A longer evaluation period is needed to assess the long-term outcome.
Adjunctive PRP or HA after arthroscopic debridement was not superior to arthroscopic debridement alone in improving knee OA symptoms. Adjunctive PRP after arthroscopic debridement was more beneficial in reducing pain.
The results of this study are expected to provide clinicians with an alternative treatment for KL grade 3 and 4 knee OA. Future research with a prospective cohort and longer follow-up period is needed.