Platelet-Rich Plasma Versus Hyaluronic Acid for Knee Chondral Injuries In Young Patients

Area of Science:

• Orthopedics
• Regenerative Medicine
• Sports Medicine

Background:

• Chondral lesions in young adults without arthrosis present a significant clinical challenge.
• Conservative treatment options are continuously being evaluated for efficacy.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare the clinical and functional outcomes of hyaluronic acid (HA) versus platelet-rich plasma (PRP) for treating knee chondral lesions in young patients.
• To evaluate the effectiveness of HA and PRP in improving patient-reported outcomes.

Main Methods:

• A prospective study involving 30 young adult patients with knee chondral lesions.
• Patients received either HA or PRP injections as conservative treatment.
• Clinical and functional outcomes were assessed using the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Arthritis Index (WOMAC) and visual analog scale (VAS) at a minimum 12-month follow-up.

Main Results:

• The PRP group showed significant improvement in WOMAC scores across all evaluated points, while the HA group did not.
• The PRP group demonstrated VAS score improvement in all aspects, whereas the HA group showed improvement at 6 and 12 months.
• PRP treatment resulted in superior WOMAC and VAS scores compared to HA treatment up to 6 months post-intervention.

Conclusions:

• Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) application yields better clinical and functional outcomes for young patients with knee chondral lesions compared to hyaluronic acid (HA).
• These positive outcomes associated with PRP were sustained for up to 12 months.
• PRP represents a promising therapeutic option for managing knee chondral lesions in this patient population.