Long-Term Efficacy of Intra-Articular PRP Injections Versus Conventional Therapy in Early-Stage Knee Osteoarthritis: A 5-Year Retrospective Study

Purpose This study aimed to evaluate the long-term clinical efficacy of intra-articular platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injections compared to conventional therapy in patients with early-stage knee osteoarthritis (KOA). We focused on assessing improvements in pain, joint function, and quality of life over a 5-year period. Methods A retrospective cohort study was conducted involving 116 patients with bilateral early-stage KOA (Kellgren–Lawrence Grade I–II) treated between January 2019 and December 2019. Patients were divided into two groups: Group A received a standardized management protocol for osteoarthritis (SMPO) combined with three PRP injections administered at weeks 0, 2, and 4, while Group B received SMPO alone. Outcome measures, including the Visual Analog Scale (VAS) for pain, the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC) for joint function, and the SF-36 Health Survey for quality of life, were assessed at baseline and at the 5-year follow-up. Results Both groups demonstrated a progressive decline in outcome scores over the 5-year follow-up, indicating worsening pain, function, and quality of life. However, statistical comparisons revealed no significant differences between the PRP-treated group and the control group across all evaluated parameters (P > 0.05). Conclusion The long-term results indicate that intra-articular PRP injections do not provide significant advantages over conventional management in early-stage knee osteoarthritis. These findings highlight the need for further research to optimize PRP treatment protocols and explore potential patient subgroups that might benefit from this regenerative therapy approach. Trial registration Not applicable