Richard B. Aguilar
Clinical Assistant Professor, Nova Southeastern University
Title: The Addition Of A Single Dose of Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) After Sarapin Therapy For Treatment Of Chronic Knee Pain In Elderly Patients In A Primary Care Setting
Biography
Biography: Richard B. Aguilar
Abstract
The efficacy of PRP in Chronic Knee Pain (CKP) has not been confirmed and usually requires up to 3 injections (1,2). Recently, significant improvement in CKP was reported in a cohort of 95 elderly patients following the administration of 3 weekly intraarticular injections of low cost aqueous Sarapin (3). This study sought to explore the effect of adding a single intraarticular injection of PRP to this cohort after completing the initial series of 3 Sarapin injections. A pain and functional limitation survey (a modified Lower Extremity Functional Scale (mLEFS)) was administered prior to initiating treatment (Entry Survey (ES)), one week After 3 Sarapin injections (AS) and then 30 (PRP30), 60 (PRP60), and 90 (PRP90) days after the single PRP injection. Higher scores denote a worse condition.
Results: N=95; Mean Age 62 +/- 9.8; 73% F; 89% Hispanic/Latino. Mean mLEFS pain/functional scores: ES 30.3 +/-12.1, AS 19.5 +/- 12.5, PRP30 18.46 +/- 13.9, PRP60 22.81 +/- 13.9, and PRP90 26.0 +/-13.9. The relative improvement in mLEFS scores compared to baseline (ES) were 39.0% PRP30 (P<0.0001), 24.7% PRP60 (P<0.001), and 14% PRP90 (P<0.036). No adverse events were reported.
Conclusions: In patients with CKP, a protocol using a single intraarticular injection of PRP after a course Sarapin resulted in significant improvement in pain and function for up to 120 days from baseline. PRP treatment can be costly ($400-1,500) (4). The use of a single dose of PRP after initial treatment with Sarapin, offers a sustained and cost-effective alternative treatment modality for CKP.