PRP Injection for Knee Osteoarthritis

The advances in harnessing the body's own healing potential are exciting. One of the most popular examples of this regenerative treatment approach, PRP (Platelet-Rich Plasma), is also used for early-stage treatment of knee osteoarthritis, with highly successful results.

Knee pain is one of the most common reasons for visits to orthopedic clinics. Especially in societies with a high population over the age of 50, knee osteoarthritis is the most frequently encountered cause of this pain. Setting aside trauma-related pain, knee osteoarthritis has become more common due to increased joint cartilage issues resulting from longer life expectancy and intense physical activities. In this article, you can read the insights provided by Dr. Davud Yasmin, an Orthopedics and Traumatology Specialist at Anadolu Health Center, on the topic, as well as learn about PRP, an innovative treatment method. Feel free to share this information with loved ones who suffer from knee pain.

Do New Treatments Bring Relief?

We can briefly define knee osteoarthritis as the weakening and structural deterioration of the knee cartilage that enables movement of the knee joints due to various reasons. However, over time, this deterioration can reduce the range of motion in the knee joint and decrease quality of life by making walking difficult. This problem, which could not be resolved satisfactorily for many years, can now be easily treated with advanced surgical interventions. Parallel to technological progress, developments in regenerative treatments, which harness the body’s self-healing potential, are exciting. One of the most popular examples of this innovative approach, PRP (Platelet-Rich Plasma), is also successfully used for early-stage knee osteoarthritis treatment.

What is PRP?

PRP stands for “Platelet Rich Plasma” and is a form of biological treatment obtained from the patient’s own blood. Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) therapy aims to leverage the body’s natural healing capabilities. The platelets in PRP are cells responsible for forming clots that stop bleeding in cases of injury. Additionally, these cells contain growth factors that contribute to tissue repair and healing. When activated, these growth factors support the body's natural healing mechanisms, aiding in the repair of damaged tissues. Regenerative treatment approaches are designed to take advantage of this property.

A single tube of blood from the patient is sufficient for PRP treatment. The platelets are separated from the blood to create a plasma liquid rich in platelets. While there are usually 150,000–400,000 platelets per milliliter in regular blood, this concentration exceeds 1 million in PRP. Another advantage of PRP is its ability to activate dormant local stem cells, which makes it a natural form of therapy.

How is PRP Administered?

The fact that PRP can be applied in an outpatient setting is also a major advantage and convenience. The patient’s blood is left to stand in special tubes for about 4 hours and then subjected to centrifugation. During the incubation process, special activators are used to enhance the growth factors, while the centrifugation separates platelets from other blood cells to form plasma. In the next stage, this plasma is injected into the knee joint, completing the treatment. As a biological therapy, PRP stands out as a method with fewer side effects.

Is It Suitable for Every Patient?

Knee osteoarthritis is classified into four stages according to the severity of the condition, with stage 4 being the most severe and stage 1 representing early-stage osteoarthritis. In medical literature, PRP has shown excellent results in stage 1 and stage 2 patients, while it helps alleviate pain in stage 3 patients. For stage 4 patients, the most appropriate option is not PRP but surgical knee replacement.

PRP is not suitable for individuals with a family history of cancer, those taking blood thinners, people with blood disorders, those with infections or inflammation at the application site, and pregnant or breastfeeding individuals.

In conclusion, PRP is an accessible, practical, low-side-effect regenerative injection therapy for knee osteoarthritis that helps reduce pain and maintain knee function, ultimately improving the quality of life.