PURPOSE

The aim of this consensus was to develop evidence- and expert-based patient-focused recommendations on the appropriateness of intra-articular platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injections in different clinical scenarios of patients with knee osteoarthritis (OA).

METHODS

The RAND/UCLA Appropriateness Method was used by the European Society of Sports Traumatology, Knee Surgery, and Arthroscopy (ESSKA), as well as the International Cartilage Regeneration and Joint Preservation Society (ICRS) to reach a consensus and produce recommendations for specific patient categories combining best available scientific evidence with the collective judgement of a panel of experts.

RESULTS

Scenarios were defined based on first treatment vs first injective treatment vs second injective treatment, age (<50/50-65/66-80/>80), tibiofemoral vs patellofemoral involvement, OA level (Kellgren-Lawrence/KL 0-I/II-III/IV), and joint effusion (dry knee, minor-mild or major effusion). Out of 216 scenarios, in 84 (38.9%) the indication was considered appropriate, in 9 (4.2%) inappropriate and in 123 (56.9%) uncertain. The parameters associated with the highest consensus were PRP use after failed injective treatments (62.5%), followed by PRP after failed conservative treatments and KL 0-III scenarios (58.3%), while the highest uncertainty was found for PRP use as first treatment and KL IV OA (91.7% and 87.5% of uncertain scenarios, respectively).

CONCLUSION

This ESSKA-ICRS consensus established recommendations on the appropriateness or inappropriateness of PRP injections for the treatment of knee OA, providing a useful reference for clinical practice. PRP injections are considered appropriate in patients aged ≤80 years with knee KL 0-III OA grade after failed conservative non-injective or injective treatments, while they are not considered appropriate as first treatment nor in KL IV OA grade.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Level I.