Clinical Comparative Trial of Arthroscopic Debridement Combined with PRP Therapy versus Pure PRP Therapy for Knee Joint: A Clinical Comparative Trial

Abstract

Background Knee joint diseases have become common musculoskeletal disorders in modern society, causing significant distress in patients' daily lives and activities. Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) therapy for knee osteoarthritis has gained widespread recognition in recent years, while the efficacy of arthroscopic debridement surgery in knee osteoarthritis remains controversial. This study aims to evaluate the differences in improving symptoms and function of knee osteoarthritis (Kellgren-Lawrence grade III) between arthroscopic debridement combined with PRP therapy and pure PRP therapy through a clinical comparative trial. Methods A retrospective analysis was conducted on 108 patients with knee osteoarthritis admitted from January 2021 to January 2022, who underwent PRP injection therapy. Patients who underwent arthroscopic debridement surgery were allocated to the arthroscopic combined with PRP therapy group (Group A), while the remaining patients were allocated to the PRP therapy group (Group B). The improvement of pain, joint symptoms, and function of knee osteoarthritis patients before and after treatment was evaluated using VAS, WOMAC, and Lysholm scores. Results Five months after the initial treatment, the knee-related scores of both groups of patients improved. The VAS pain score and WOMAC osteoarthritis score decreased, while the Lysholm knee function score increased, and all differences were statistically significant. When comparing the arthroscopic debridement combined with PRP treatment group to the pure PRP injection treatment group, the combined treatment group showed a greater decrease in VAS pain score and WOMAC osteoarthritis score, a more significant increase in Lysholm knee function score, with statistically significant differences (P < 0.05). Conclusion PRP therapy can improve symptoms of knee osteoarthritis and promote joint function recovery, with better improvement in joint symptoms and function in the PRP combined with arthroscopic surgery group, and high safety.