Platelet-Rich Plasma Intra-articular Knee Injections Show No Superiority Versus Viscosupplementation: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Filardo G, Di Matteo B, Di Martino A, et al. · The American Journal of Sports Medicine

Both groups improved at 12 months with no significant between-group difference in IKDC or any secondary score; more transient post-injection pain/swelling with LR-PRP.

Population

Adults with symptomatic knee cartilage degeneration or OA (Kellgren-Lawrence <=3)

Intervention

3 weekly intra-articular injections of leukocyte-rich PRP

Comparator

3 weekly hyaluronic acid injections (double-blind)

Limitations

No placebo arm — equivalence to HA is not proof of efficacy given HA's own near-placebo performance.