Chicago-based Rush University Medical Center researchers will study whether platelet-rich plasma can help relieve knee pain in patients with mild to moderate osteoarthritis, according to a hospital news release.
At present, the standard of care is either corticosteroid injections, which may provide relief for about three months, or synthetic lubricants containing hyaluronic acid, which can last for up to a year. PRP contains growth factors that promote cell proliferation and is prepared from the patient's own blood tissue. It has received popular attention recently because of its use in treating sports injuries in professional athletes, but the jury is still out on whether it is effective.
In the study, 100 patients will receive either hyaluronic acid or PRP. Patients receiving PRP will receive three injections over three weeks and will be monitored for two years. The physician will assess pain and knee function. In addition, a teaspoon-size sample will be taken of the synovial fluid around the knee joint to test for anabolic factors that can cause the deterioration of cartilage and osteoarthritis.
Read the hospital news release about the PRP study for knee pain.
Read other coverage about PRP:
- ASC Coding Guidance: Platelet-Rich Plasma Injection
- PRP for the Treatment of Plantar Fasciitis
- 3 Tips for Coding Orthopedics Procedures in Surgery Centers
At present, the standard of care is either corticosteroid injections, which may provide relief for about three months, or synthetic lubricants containing hyaluronic acid, which can last for up to a year. PRP contains growth factors that promote cell proliferation and is prepared from the patient's own blood tissue. It has received popular attention recently because of its use in treating sports injuries in professional athletes, but the jury is still out on whether it is effective.
In the study, 100 patients will receive either hyaluronic acid or PRP. Patients receiving PRP will receive three injections over three weeks and will be monitored for two years. The physician will assess pain and knee function. In addition, a teaspoon-size sample will be taken of the synovial fluid around the knee joint to test for anabolic factors that can cause the deterioration of cartilage and osteoarthritis.
Read the hospital news release about the PRP study for knee pain.
Read other coverage about PRP:
- ASC Coding Guidance: Platelet-Rich Plasma Injection
- PRP for the Treatment of Plantar Fasciitis
- 3 Tips for Coding Orthopedics Procedures in Surgery Centers