Does platelet-rich plasma relieve knee osteoarthritis better than other injectable treatments?

Knee osteoarthritis affects hundreds of millions of people worldwide. It is characterized by the progressive wear of cartilage, leading to pain and difficulty moving. Among the proposed solutions, platelet-rich plasma injections are generating increasing interest. This treatment uses the patient’s own blood, concentrated in platelets, to stimulate tissue repair and reduce inflammation.

A recent analysis compared the effectiveness of platelet-rich plasma with other common injections: hyaluronic acid, corticosteroids, and a saline placebo. The results show that platelet-rich plasma significantly improves pain and mobility after six months, with benefits lasting up to one year. These improvements are more pronounced than those achieved with hyaluronic acid or corticosteroids, and far superior to those of the placebo.

A key factor influences the effectiveness of platelet-rich plasma: the amount of blood drawn to prepare it. Studies using at least 40 milliliters of blood achieve better results, particularly in reducing pain and improving joint function. This larger volume allows for the capture of more platelets, which are essential for releasing growth factors that promote healing and reduce inflammation.

However, studies show notable differences in their protocols, making comparisons sometimes difficult. Some use manual techniques, others commercial kits, and the number of injections varies. Despite these variations, platelet-rich plasma remains overall more effective than the alternatives, especially when the preparation is based on an adequate blood draw.

These observations suggest that the volume of blood drawn could serve as a simple indicator for assessing the quality of the treatment, in the absence of precise information on platelet concentration. This opens up a path to optimizing protocols and offering patients more effective management of their knee osteoarthritis.

Official Sources

Source Document

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00264-026-06782-7

Title: Autologous platelet-rich plasma versus hyaluronic acid, corticosteroids or saline for knee osteoarthritis: can blood draw volume serve as a proxy for platelet dose? A systematic review and meta-analysis

Journal: International Orthopaedics

Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC

Authors: Christopher J. Centeno; Dustin R. Berger; Andrew J. Pelle; Ehren Dodson; Philippe Hernigou; Matthew B. Murphy