RT Journal Article SR Electronic T1 Efficacy of platelet-rich plasma injections in osteoarthritis of the knee: a systematic review and meta-analysis JF British Journal of Sports Medicine JO Br J Sports Med FD BMJ Publishing Group Ltd and British Association of Sport and Exercise Medicine SP 657 OP 672 DO 10.1136/bjsports-2014-094036 VO 49 IS 10 A1 Augustinus B M Laudy A1 Eric W P Bakker A1 Mark Rekers A1 Maarten H Moen YR 2015 UL http://bjsm.bmj.com/content/49/10/657.abstract AB Background The effectiveness of platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injections for osteoarthritis (OA) is still controversial. We investigated the effect of PRP injections in patients with knee OA based on decreasing pain, improving function, global assessment and changes regarding joint imaging. Methods We performed a comprehensive, systematic literature search in computerised databases (MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL, CENTRAL, Web of Science and PEDro) until June 2014 for randomised or non-randomised controlled trials. These were graded for risk of bias and a level of evidence was provided. If possible, meta-analysis was performed. Results Ten trials were included. In these, intra-articular PRP injections were more effective for pain reduction (mean difference (MD) −2.45; 95% CI −2.92 to −1.98; p value <0.00001 and MD −2.07; 95% CI −2.59 to −1.55; p value <0.00001, single and double PRP injections, respectively) compared with placebo at 6 months postinjection. Intra-articular PRP injections were compared with hyaluronic acid and showed a statistically significant difference in favour of PRP on pain reduction based on the visual analogue scale and numeric rating scale (standardised mean difference −0.92; 95% CI −1.20 to −0.63; p value <0.00001) at 6 months postinjection. Almost all trials revealed a high risk of bias. Conclusions On the basis of the current evidence, PRP injections reduced pain more effectively than did placebo injections in OA of the knee (level of evidence: limited due to a high risk of bias). This significant effect on pain was also seen when PRP injections were compared with hyaluronic acid injections (level of evidence: moderate due to a generally high risk of bias). Additionally, function improved significantly more when PRP injections were compared with controls (limited to moderate evidence). More large randomised studies of good quality and low risk of bias are needed to test whether PRP injections should be a routine part of management of patients with OA of the knee.