Efficacy of Platelet-Rich Plasma in Knee Osteoarthritis: A One-Year Prospective Follow-Up Study

Background: Knee osteoarthritis (OA) is a leading cause of pain and disability. Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) is an autologous biologic with regenerative potential. This study evaluated the efficacy and safety of intra-articular PRP in primary knee OA over one year. Methods: Prospective, single-center study at Kamal Hospital, Tarn Taran (2017). Seventy-nine patients (102 knees) with Kellgren–Lawrence grade II–III OA received a single PRP injection. Assessments at baseline, 3, 6, and 12 months included VAS (pain) and WOMAC (function). Repeated-measures ANOVA tested changes over time (p<0.05 significant). Results: VAS improved from 77.9 to 39.2 and WOMAC from 63.1 to 36.9 at 12 months (both p<0.001). At one year, 83.5% achieved ≥50% pain reduction. Adverse events were minor and transient (post-injection pain/stiffness in 24.1%). Conclusion: Intra-articular PRP yielded clinically meaningful, sustained improvements in knee OA through one year, with an excellent safety profile.