Intra-Articular PRP for Grade 2 Degenerative Meniscus Lesions; Radiological and Clinical Outcomes

Area of Science:

• Orthopedics
• Regenerative Medicine
• Sports Medicine

Background:

• Degenerative meniscal lesions are a common cause of knee pain and dysfunction.
• Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) therapy is increasingly used to treat orthopedic conditions.
• Evaluating the efficacy of PRP in degenerative meniscal lesions is crucial for clinical practice.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the clinical and radiological outcomes of intra-articular platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injections for degenerative meniscal lesions.
• To determine if PRP therapy improves knee function and reduces pain in patients with grade 2 meniscal degeneration.

Main Methods:

• Seventy patients with symptomatic grade 2 degenerative meniscal lesions were enrolled.
• Clinical assessments included KOOS, Tegner-Lysholm, IKDC, and VAS scores.
• MRI scans were performed before and 6 months post-injection to evaluate meniscal degeneration.

Main Results:

• Significant improvements were observed in Tegner-Lysholm, KOOS, and IKDC scores (p<0.01).
• A statistically significant reduction in Visual Analog Scale (VAS) pain scores was noted (p<0.01).
• No significant changes were detected in MRI parameters, indicating no improvement in meniscal degeneration on imaging (p>0.05).

Conclusions:

• Intra-articular PRP injections can effectively improve knee function and alleviate pain in patients with degenerative meniscal lesions.
• While clinical outcomes are positive, PRP therapy did not demonstrate significant radiological improvement in meniscal degeneration as assessed by MRI.
• Further research may be needed to explore the long-term effects and optimal protocols for PRP in meniscal degeneration.