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Review
. 2018 Dec;11(4):583-592.
doi: 10.1007/s12178-018-9524-x.

Clinical Update: Why PRP Should Be Your First Choice for Injection Therapy in Treating Osteoarthritis of the Knee

Corey S Cook  1 , Patrick A Smith  2   3
Affiliations
Review

Clinical Update: Why PRP Should Be Your First Choice for Injection Therapy in Treating Osteoarthritis of the Knee

Corey S Cook et al. Curr Rev Musculoskelet Med. 2018 Dec.

Abstract

Purpose of review: The purpose of this review is to update the reader on the current applications of platelet-rich plasma (PRP) in the treatment of knee osteoarthritis (KOA). This review will focus on PRP's effect on the osteoarthritic joint, how PRP compares to traditional treatments of KOA, and provide clinical feedback on the use of PRP in an orthopedic and sports medicine practice.

Recent findings: Recent research into the applications of PRP for KOA has further indicated both the efficacy and safety of PRP treatment. Although research has shown a tendency toward better efficacy at earlier stages of osteoarthritis (OA), evidence exists to indicate positive effects at all stages of OA. In summary, since KOA is an extremely prevalent condition that can be a challenge to treat, it is imperative that safe and effective nonoperative treatment methods be available to individuals that are suffering from this condition.

Keywords: Intra-articular; Knee; Osteoarthritis; PRP; Platelet-rich plasma.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflict of Interest

Dr. Smith is a consultant for Arthrex and receives research support from them.

Dr. Cook has no conflicts of interest.

Human and Animal Rights and Informed Consent

This article does not contain any studies with human or animal subjects performed by any of the authors.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
The resultant product of a single spin centrifugation, with an upper plasma layer (a) and a lower layer (b) containing both leukocytes and erythrocytes
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
From harvest to finished product. (1) A small blood sample (15 cc) is acquired through venipuncture; (2) the collected sample is centrifuged (5 min; 5000 rpm); (3) after the centrifugation is complete, the sample is ready to be separated; (4) using the double-syringe system, the plasma layer is separated from the lower layer containing leukocytes and erythrocytes; (5) the inner syringe, now containing the ACP, is separated from the outside syringe, which contains the discarded leukocytes and erythrocytes; (6) once a needle is attached, the ACP is ready to be injected
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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