THE CLINICAL EFFECT OF INTRAARTICULAR INJECTIONS OF AUTOLOGOUS PLATELET-RICH PLASMA AS AN AUGMENTATION PROCEDURE AFTER SURGERY FOR PATIENTS WITH CONDROPATHY OF THE KNEE – CASE SERIES
Abstract:
The aim of the study was to investigate whether platelet-rich plasma (PRP) application after
arthroscopic microfracture procedure for condropathy of the knee is associated with improved clinical
outcome. Materials and Methods: We enrolled prospectively 41 patients treated with microfracture
procedure for condropathy of the knee. 23 received postoperative 3 intraarticular injections of PRP at 2-
weeks intervals. The clinical outcome was evaluated using Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome
Score (KOOS) and International Knee Documentation Committee Subjective Knee Form (IKDC),
recorded at 3 and 6 months. Results: At 3 months KOOS improved significant in PRP group (p<0.001),
but the difference was not maintained at 6 months (p=0.097). At 3 months IKDC improved significant in
PRP group (p=0.002) and the difference was maintained at 6 months (p=0.001). Conclusion: PRP may
accelerate the healing process in patients treated with microfracture procedure for condropathy of the
knee but there might be no difference in the final outcome.
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