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Table 1 Summary of Trial Characteristics

From: Intra-articular platelet-rich plasma injections versus intra-articular corticosteroid injections for symptomatic management of knee osteoarthritis: systematic review and meta-analysis

Study

Sample (n)

Dropouts

Study Design

Population

Intervention design

Follow-up period

Outcome Measurement

Huang et al. (2019) [26]

265 recruited

120 participants

(46% female)

40 received PRP, 40 received CS and 40 HA (HA patients not included)

0

145 did not meet inclusion criteria

Prospective, randomised study

Kellgren/Lawrence grade 1–2

Aged 40–65

Chinese patients recruited from May 2016

1 injection per group, received once

Anatomically guided injections

4 ml LP-PRP

1 ml corticosteroid

12 months

WOMAC and VAS scores at 3, 6,9- and 12-months post intervention

Khan et al. (2018) [29]

150 patients recruited

101 participants

(76.5% female)

52 received PRP, 51 received CS

49

Randomised control trial

Kellgren/Lawrence grade 2 and ACR osteoarthritis criteria

Aged 40–63

Pakistani patients recruited between July ‘17-July ‘18

2 injections per group, given at 0 months and 2 months.

Anatomically guided injections

5 ml PRP (LR/LP not specified)

1 mil (40 mg) triamcinolone

6 months

WOMAC and VAS scores at 2 months, then every 2 weeks until 6 months

Naderi et al. (2018) [30]

72 recruited

67 participated

(82% female)

33 received PRP,

34 received corticosteroids

5

Randomised control trial with Quad

ruple block randomisation

Kellgren/Lawrence or ACR grade 2–3 osteoarthritis

Aged 30–75

Iranian patients between April ‘16- June ‘17, recruited in a hospital

3 injections performed once a month for 3 consecutive months in both groups

Ultrasound guided injections

5 ml LR-PRP

40 mg triamcinolone

6 months

VAS and KOOS scores before the onset of treatment, once a month after treatment and 6 months after treatment.

Freire et al. (2018) [28]

50 patients (25 PRP, 25 corticosteroids)

(84% female)

Double-blinded block randomisation

0

Randomised, controlled, longitudinal, double blind, comparative, descriptive study

Kellgren/Lawrence 2–4

Aged 30–90

Brazilian patients, recruited in a medical centre

1 injection performed once in each group

Anatomically guided injections

5 ml LP- PRP

2.5 ml triamcinolone

6 months

KSS, WOMAC, Kellgren-Lawrence scores evaluated before treatment, at 1 months and 6 months post-intervention

Camurcu et al. (2018) [31]

132 patients recruited

(83% female)

37 PRP, 40 PRP+ steroid, 38 steroid

17

Prospective longitudinal study

Kellgren-Lawrence grade 2–3

Aged 40–80

Turkish patients recruited in 2016

1 injection of PRP only, PRP + steroid, or steroid only

Anatomically guided injection

3 ml LR-PRP

1 ml methylprednisolone

12 months (for 115 patients)

VAS and WOMAC at 1,3, 6- and 12-months post-intervention

Phul et al. (2018) [27]

80 patients recruited

40 in each group: PRP or corticosteroid

(67.5% female)

0

Randomised control trial

Kellgren/Lawrence grade 2–4

Aged 40–75

Pakistani patients recruited between Feb- August 2015

1 injection in both groups

Anatomically guided injection for PRP; fluoroscopically guided corticosteroid injection

4–6 microml LR-PRP

40 ml triamcinolone

3 months

VAS at baseline and 3 months post-intervention

Uslu et al. (2017) [20]

57 patients recruited

50 participants (92% female)

17 received CS, 19 single PRP, 14 triple PRP injection

7

Prospective, randomised, single-blind (physician blind)

Kellgren/Lawrence grade 3

Aged 50–75

Turkish patients between June ‘15- March ‘16, hospital setting

3 groups receiving either 1 PRP injection, 3 PRP injections (given 1 week apart) or 1 steroid injection

Anatomically guided injections

LR-PRP, dose not specified

Corticosteroid suspension equivalent to 5 mg betamethasone

6 months

VAS, WOMAC and HAD scale (an assessment of anxiety and depression) with follow up at baseline, 2 and 6 months post-intervention

Jubert et al. (2017) [22]

65 patients included

(72% female)

35 PRP, 30 corticosteroid

0

Prospective randomised, double-blind, parallel controlled study

Kellgren/Lawrence grade 3–4

Aged 40–80

Patients between Aug ‘13- July ‘14

1 injection per group given once

Anatomically guided injections

4 ml LP-PRP

2 ml betamethasone

6 months

VAS, KOOS and SF36 scores at 1, 3- and 6-months post-intervention