Editorial Commentary: Platelet-Rich Plasma for Knee Osteoarthritis: A "Novel" and Effective Symptomatic Approach.

Abstract

Osteoarthritis (OA) constitutes a significant cause of disability, and it is now recognized as a source of increased mortality. Thus, several therapeutic approaches have been reported in the literature in an attempt to mitigate the symptoms of OA with varying degrees of success. Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) is being increasingly accepted as one of the most efficacious approaches for the symptomatic treatment of mild to moderate OA. Several confounding factors can affect the outcome of PRP such as age, grade of OA, PRP processing technique, and number and timing of these injections. However, numerous reports in the literature derived from PRP randomized clinical trials (compared with saline, hyaluronic acid, and other nonsurgical methods) suggest that successful outcomes can be achieved at least at 1-year postinjection with minimal complications.