Study and patient characteristics
| Study (year) | Study design | Level of evidence | Interventions (n, patients) | Total patients | Female (%) | Mean age (±SD) | Follow-up (weeks) | OA grade | VAS pain scores (2–4 months, 6 months) | WOMAC function scores (2–4 months, 6 months) |
| Atchia et al (2011)34 | RCT | I | HA (19) NS (19) CCS (19) CTL (20) | 77 | 43 (56) | 68.5 (8.3) | 8 | Croft I–IV | HA (4.65, NR) NS (5.8, NR) CCS (4.3, NR) CTL (5.5, NR) | (35.4, NR) (41.3, NR) (31.8, NR) (40.1, NR) |
| Battaglia et al (2013)35 | RCT | I | PRP (50) HA (50) | 100 | 37 (37) | 53.5 (12) | 12–24 | K-L II–IV | PRP (3.8, 4.3) HA (3.8, 4.0) | (18.5, 20.3) (15.6, 16.5) |
| Brander et al (20198)37 | RCT | I | HA (182) NS (175) | 357 | 210 (59) | 60.3 (9.4) | 12–24 | K-L II–III | HA (4.0, 4.1) NS (3.8, 4) | (29.9, 28.8) (28.3, 29.3) |
| Dallari et al (2016)38 | RCT | I | PRP (44) HA (36) PRP+HA (31) | 111 | 53 (48) | NR | 8–24 | K-L I–IV | PRP (2.0, 2.0) HA (3.4, 5.3) PRP+HA (3.4, 3.9) | (17.5, 17.3) (25.5, 26.9) (28.7, 28.1) |
| Di Sante et al (2016)39 | RCT | I | PRP (21) HA (22) | 43 | 23 (53) | 72.5 (7) | 16 | K-L II–III | PRP (5.4, NR) HA (2.0, NR) | (50.8, NR) (28.4, NR) |
| Doria et al (2017)40 | RCT | I | PRP (40) HA (40) | 80 | NR | 67.7 (5.2) | 24 | K-L I–II | PRP (NR, 6.3) HA (NR, 6.3) | (NR, 12.3) (NR, 11.3) |
| Lambert et al (2007)41 | RCT | I | CCS (31) NS (21) | 52 | 31 (60) | 61.3 (11) | 8 | K-L I–IV | CCS (3.1, NR) NS (6.1, NR) | (24.2, NR) (42.7, NR) |
| Migliore et al (2009)42 | RCT | I | HA (22) NS (20) | 44 | 20 (48) | 67.5 (8.8) | 12–24 | K-L II–IV | HA (4.3, 4.5) NS (4.5, 5.0) | (35.0, 26.8) (44.4, 43.6) |
| Qvistgaard et al (2006)43 | RCT | I | HA (33) NS (36) CCS (32) | 101 | 65 (64) | 66 (11.3) | 12 | K-L I–IV | HA (3.8, NR) NS (3.7, NR) CCS (3.5, NR) | (23.4, NR) (23.8, NR) (23.6, NR) |
| Richette et al (2009)44 | RCT | I | HA (42) NS (43) | 85 | 50 (59) | 59 (11.4) | 12 | K-L II–III | HA (5.1, NR) NS (5.1, NR) | (30.3, NR) (29.9, NR) |
| Spitzer et al (2010)36 | RCT | I | HA (150) CCS (155) | 305 | 154 (51) | 59 (11.5) | 24 | K-L II–III | HA (NR, 4.4) CCS (NR, 4.8) | (NR, 34.4) (NR, 40.0) |
CCS, corticosteroids; CTL, control (no injection); HA, hyaluronic acid; I, level I evidence; K-L, Kellgren-Lawrence; NR, not recorded; NS, normal saline; OA, osteoarthritis; PRP, platelet-rich plasma; RCT, randomised controlled trial; VAS, Visual Analogue Scale; WOMAC, Western Ontario and McMaster Osteoarthritis Index.