Today’s Research Article
The Use of Intra-articular Platelet-Rich Plasma as a Therapeutic Intervention for Hip Osteoarthritis
Anthony Lim, BA, John B. Zhu,* BA, and Vikas Khanduja,yz MA (Cantab), MSc, FRCS (Tr&Orth), PhD
Investigation performed at the University of Cambridge School of Clinical Medicine, Cambridge, UK
Read the full article here.
Summary:
This systematic review and meta-analysis evaluated the use of intra-articular platelet-rich plasma (PRP) therapy as a treatment for hip osteoarthritis (OA). The study analyzed data from eight studies with 331 patients. PRP, which is derived from the patient's blood and contains elevated levels of platelets and growth factors, has gained popularity as a non-surgical intervention for managing early-stage hip OA, particularly for patients who are not yet candidates for hip replacement surgery.
The findings showed that PRP significantly reduced pain, particularly within 1 to 2 months after treatment, though improvements in function were only observed in the short term. Interestingly, a single PRP injection was found to be more effective in reducing pain than multiple injections. Additionally, lower doses of PRP (under 15 mL) and leukocyte-poor PRP preparations were associated with better pain relief outcomes compared to higher doses or leukocyte-rich PRP. Importantly, no lasting adverse effects were reported.
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