Comparison of the Efficacy of Platelet-Rich Plasma and Hyaluronic Acid in the Treatment of Degenerative Knee Diseases Over 12 Months of Therapy According to the Results of the Visual Analogue Pain Scale

Introduction. The primary local treatments for knee osteoarthritis (OAKS) include hyaluronic acid (HA) and platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injections. The visual analogue pain scale (VAS) is often used to assess their effectiveness. Ongoing debate persists regarding which method provides the most sustained efficacy in reducing pain and improving joint function, complicating therapeutic decisions. Aim — to evaluate the efficacy of OACS treatment, as measured by VAS, 12 months after the initiation of intra-articular PRP injection compared to HA injection. Materials and methods . We included only English-language articles with full text available that presented treatment outcomes as VAS in patients treated for OACS with HA or PRP over a 12-month period. Results. A total of 196 articles were initially selected, with 170 remaining after removing duplicates, and 4 meeting inclusion criteria. Meta-analysis of VAS at 12 months post-therapy indicated a Hedges’ g effect size of 0.26, without statistical significance. Study heterogeneity was high (I 2 = 93.48 %). Publication bias tests found no significant bias, and Trim and Fill analysis identified no missing studies needing adjustment. Conclusion. The study revealed no significant difference between PRP and HA in treating knee osteoarthritis over 12 months. The absence of publication bias supports the reliability of these findings.