Comparison of Long-Term Functional Outcomes of Platelet-Rich Plasma Versus Intra-Articular Steroids in Early Knee Osteoarthritis

ABSTRACTIntroduction: Knee osteoarthritis (OA) is a commondegenerative joint disease characterized by pain, stiffness, andfunctional limitation. Less invasive interventions such asplatelet-rich plasma (PRP) and intra-articular corticosteroidinjections are increasingly employed in early disease. Aim: Tocompare the long-term functional outcomes of intra-articularPRP versus intra-articular corticosteroids in early-stage kneeOA. Methods: This prospective randomized study wasconducted at Rajshree Medical Research Institute, Bareilly.Patients aged 50–70 years with Kellgren–Lawrence (KL) grade2–3 primary knee OA unresponsive to at least six weeks ofconservative management were randomized to autologous PRPor intra-articular methylprednisolone acetate and followed at 4,12, 24, and 36 weeks. Outcomes included WOMAC pain,stiffness, and function subscales and visual analogue scale(VAS) pain scores. Complications were recorded. Results:Baseline WOMAC pain and stiffness scores were comparablebetween groups, with slightly higher mean values in the PRPcohort. Both PRP and steroid injections produced statisticallysignificant improvements in pain, stiffness, and functionaldisability over 36 weeks. Corticosteroids demonstrated morerapid early reduction in pain and stiffness, whereas PRPshowed sustained benefits over time. No major complicationswere observed. Conclusion: Both PRP and intra-articularcorticosteroid injections provided significant symptomatic andfunctional improvement up to 36 weeks. Corticosteroidsoffered faster pain relief, while PRP provided comparablelong-term functional outcomes and represented a safebiological alternative in appropriately selected patients.