Efficacy of Platelet Rich Plasma on Thumb Basal Joint Osteoarthritis: A Narrative Review

Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) has emerged as a potential treatment for carpometacarpal (CMC) joint osteoarthritis, with studies suggesting it may offer more durable symptom relief compared to corticosteroids. A comprehensive review of four studies, including two randomized controlled trials (RCTs), a retrospective study, and a pilot study, revealed that both PRP and corticosteroid injections led to short-term improvements in pain and function. However, PRP demonstrated significantly better long-term outcomes, with VAS scores decreasing from 75 to 20 in the PRP group at 12 months, compared to a modest reduction from 70 to 65 in the corticosteroid group. Additionally, PRP showed a significantly lower DASH score at 12 months (20.4 vs. 43, P = 0.025). The pilot study indicated short-term improvements in pain and function, but some rebound in symptoms was observed at six months. Despite the promising results, variability in PRP protocols and study designs limits direct comparisons, and further large-scale, standardized trials are necessary to confirm these findings and establish optimal treatment protocols for CMC joint osteoarthritis.