1Dr Muhammad Inam, 2Dr Imran Khan,3Muhammad Abdul Hannan, 4Dr Asim Munir , 5Dr
Muhammad
Platelet-Rich Plasma Versus Hyaluronic Acid for Early
Knee Osteoarthrit A Comparative Study
Abstract:
Early knee osteoarthritis (KOA) is characterized by progressive cartilage
degeneration, synovial inflammation, pain, stiffness, and functional impairment. Intra-articular
hyaluronic acid (HA) and platelet-rich plasma (PRP) are commonly investigated injectable
treatments intended to relieve symptoms and improve joint function. PRP contains concentrated
platelets and associated growth factors that may influence inflammatory and reparative pathways, whereas HA primarily contributes to lubrication, viscoelasticity, and modulation of the intra- articular environment. Current comparative evidence suggests that both treatments can improve
pain and function, although PRP may provide greater or more sustained clinical improvement in
selected patients.The objective was to compare the clinical effectiveness of intra-articular PRP
and HA in patients with early knee osteoarthritis, focusing on pain relief, functional
improvement, duration of benefit, treatment-related adverse effects, and overall clinical utility.A
comparative clinical research framework was used to evaluate PRP and HA for symptomatic
early KOA. Relevant clinical studies, randomized controlled trials, systematic reviews, and
meta-analyses were reviewed. Outcomes included pain severity, knee function, patient-reported
improvement, duration of therapeutic benefit, and adverse events. The comparative evidence was
synthesized qualitatively without generating unsupported patient-level numerical data. Both PRP
and HA demonstrated beneficial effects on pain and knee function. PRP generally produced
greater improvement in pain and patient-reported functional outcomes during intermediate and
longer follow-up periods, particularly in patients with less advanced osteoarthritis. HA also
provided clinically meaningful symptom relief, although its benefits were generally less
pronounced or less durable in comparative studies. Both treatments showed favorable safety
profiles, with mainly transient local reactions. Treatment response varied according to disease
severity, PRP preparation, injection protocol, and patient characteristics. PRP and HA are both
useful nonoperative injectable options for early knee osteoarthritis. PRP generally demonstrates a
greater and more sustained improvement in pain and function, while HA remains a reasonable
alternative because of its established clinical use and favorable tolerability. Patient selection,
GlobalHealth & Medicine. 2026; 8(3):306-318. Original Article
DOI:10.35772/ghm.2026.01070
standardized PRP preparation, disease severity, and treatment expectations should guide the
choice between the two therapies.
Keywords
Knee osteoarthritis, platelet-rich plasma, hyaluronic acid, intra-articular injection, pain, functional outcome, cartilage degeneration, regenerative medicine.
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