A recent study from Korea evaluates how the extent of joint damage in knee osteoarthritis affects the potential of platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injection. Sixty-five patients with knee osteoarthritis received platelet-rich plasma injection and were subsequently followed-up at 1,3,6,9, and 12 months.
Patients reported pain relief and functional improvement 6 months post-injection but also documented relapsed pain 8.8 months after the procedure. Additionally, patients that developed further degeneration of the joint experienced relapsed pain faster than the rest. Also, a negative correlation was witnessed between a patient’s age and PRP injection’s potential in improving patient’s pain and function. In conclusion, platelet-rich plasma therapy can be used in treating early osteoarthritis but degeneration of the joint and increasing age decreases the potential benefit of PRP. This supports our current understanding that PRP works best in knee arthritis when intervention is early in more active individuals. For more advanced arthritis, BMC Bone Marrow Concentrate  is the next generation biologic injection with promise before undergoing total joint replacement.
