Functional outcome of microfracture in medial compartment osteoarthritis knee augmented with platelet-rich plasma

Abstract

Background: Osteoarthritis (OA) is primarily thought to be a disease of the elderly, as more than one-third of the population over the age of 65 has OA in at least one joint. Microfracture (MFx) of the subchondral bone is a commonly utilized surgical method to address cartilage abnormalities. The effects of MFx with platelet-rich plasma (PRP) augmentation have been studied in animal models and human participants, particularly in the knee and ankle joints. Aims and objectives: To analyze the impact of PRP augmentation in MFx of patients with OA in elderly patients. Materials and Methods: Thirty-One patients with knee OA were studied in the Department of Orthopaedics, Index Medical College, Hospital and Research Centre, Indore. All the procedures were carried out in the same way. PRP was injected directly into the synovial cavity using the K-wire method. Postoperative evaluations were performed on the 6th, 12th, and 24th weeks after surgery. The surveys WOMAC and Lysholm were used. Results: K-wire microfracturation showed postoperative WOMAC improvement compared to preop score in the PRP group (p<0.001). Clinical improvement was noted in the first six weeks, after which the effect lasted (p<0.001). In addition, the Lysholm score also showed a significant difference at the end of the follow-up compared to the preoperative score (p<0.001). Conclusion: In individuals over the age of 50, MFx improves motor function and lowers discomfort. The addition of PRP to the procedure is safe, and it can help speed up and prolong the therapeutic effect of the treatment. The technique has excellent results for the first six weeks, after which the improvement lasts.