PRP for Knee Arthritis
An Evidence-Informed, Non-Surgical Treatment Option
Knee osteoarthritis is one of the most common causes of pain, stiffness, and loss of mobility. For appropriately selected patients, Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP) may provide a non-surgical treatment option that helps reduce pain, improve function, and support the body's natural healing response.
Growing evidence supports Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP) as an effective non-surgical treatment for appropriately selected patients with mild to moderate knee osteoarthritis, with many studies demonstrating superior and longer-lasting improvements in pain and function compared with corticosteroid and hyaluronic acid injections.
At IOSD, every PRP procedure is personally performed by Dr. Melanie Worley using precision ultrasound guidance and a preparation protocol designed to optimize the composition and platelet dose of the final PRP product.
Why Does Platelet Dose Matter for Knee Arthritis PRP?
Not all PRP is the same. One of the most important variables in PRP treatment is the total platelet dose delivered to the joint—not simply the platelet concentration.
Recent research suggests a dose-response relationship in knee osteoarthritis, with total platelet dose potentially influencing clinical outcomes. Systematic reviews by Berrigan et al. found that higher platelet doses were associated with better clinical outcomes, particularly functional improvement, with subsequent analysis identifying greater than 10 billion platelets as a potential threshold associated with favorable outcomes.
Similarly, a clinical trial by Bansal et al. demonstrated sustained improvements in pain and function using a standardized PRP preparation containing 10 billion platelets, further supporting the importance of adequate platelet dosing for knee osteoarthritis.
Clinical Evidence
Platelet Dose and Clinical Outcomes in Knee Osteoarthritis
Systematic review & meta-analysis — Berrigan et al., 2024
PRP Dose in Knee Osteoarthritis
Clinical trial — Bansal et al., Scientific Reports, 2021
Our PRP Philosophy
At IOSD, we believe quality begins with the preparation.
Rather than relying on a small blood sample, our PRP protocol uses a higher-volume blood draw to increase the total number of platelets available for processing. Each PRP preparation follows an evidence-informed protocol designed to optimize platelet dose and PRP quality, while every injection is personally performed by Dr. Melanie Worley using advanced fellowship training and precision ultrasound guidance to target the specific joint or injured tissue.