1Dr Muhammad Inam, 2Dr Imran Khan,3Muhammad Abdul Hannan, 4Dr Asim Munir , 5Dr
Muhammad
Platelet-Rich Plasma Versus Hyaluronic Acid for Early
Knee Osteoarthritis- 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, 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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