EVALUATION OF THE SHORT-TERM OUTCOMES OF PLATELET-RICH PLASMA INTRA-ARTICULAR INJECTIONS FOR TREATING PATIENTS WITH EARLY STAGE GONARTHROSIS

OBJECTIVE The aim of this study was to evaluate the short-term clinical outcomes of intra-articular platelet-rich plasma (PRP) treatment and to evaluate the increase in functional activity and quality of life in patients with early stage gonarthrosis. MATERIALS AND METHODS We planned our study retrospectively. Eighty-six patients (54 females and 32 males) with 108 knees (54 right and 54 left) who had pain and swelling for > 4 months due to all grades of knee osteoarthritis according to the Kellgren–Lawrence grading scale were evaluated . Our patients were homogenous in terms of age and body mass index. Three intra-articular PRP injections were administered once per week, and the patients were clinically evaluated prospectively before treatment and at 2 and 6 months after treatment with the visual analogue scale (VAS), the Knee Society Score (KSS), and the Short Form-36 (SF-36). RESULTS No major complications due to treatment were observed. Seventeen patients had transient swelling and pain for 2 days. Significant improvements on the VAS, KSS and SF-36 scores were obtained at the 2- and 6-month follow-ups (p < 0.05). The VAS, KSS, and SF-36 scores improved significantly at the 6-month evaluation compared to those at the month 2 follow up. CONCLUSION We believe that intra-articular PRP treatment is effective during the early stage of gonarthrosis and increases the quality of life and functional activity of recipients. Key Words: Platelet-rich plasma, Intra-articular injection , Gonarthrosis.