Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40507744›Full record

ReviewJournal of clinical medicine2025

Platelet-Rich Plasma for Knee Osteoarthritis: A Comprehensive Narrative Review of the Mechanisms, Preparation Protocols, and Clinical Evidence.

Wojciech Michał Glinkowski, Grzegorz Gut, Dariusz Śladowski

Abstract readReview
In one paragraph

Review in Journal of clinical medicine, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 23 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
23citing papers in PubMed, 1 pooled it
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

23 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.

  1. Academic Influence and Industry Funding in Platelet-Rich Plasma Injections: Coauthorship Network Analysis.Journal of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. Global research & reviews · 2026
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  18. Platelet-rich plasma for treatment of knee osteoarthritis: a narrative review.Frontiers in pain research (Lausanne, Switzerland) · 2026
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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

3 authors.

Wojciech Michał GlinkowskiCenter of Excellence "TeleOrto" for Telediagnostics and Treatment of Disorders and Injuries of the Locomotor System, Department of Medical Informatics and Telemedicine, Medical University of Warsaw, 02-091 Warsaw, Poland.ORCID 0000-0003-2602-1128
Grzegorz GutDepartment of Transplantology and Central Tissue Bank, Medical University of Warsaw, 02-091 Warsaw, Poland.ORCID 0000-0002-7164-4298
Dariusz ŚladowskiDepartment of Transplantology and Central Tissue Bank, Medical University of Warsaw, 02-091 Warsaw, Poland.ORCID 0000-0002-2453-5160

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundPlatelet-rich plasma (PRP) is increasingly utilized for managing knee osteoarthritis (KOA), yet its clinical value remains debated due to the variability in preparation protocols and outcome measures.

methodsThis narrative review synthesizes current evidence from 40 high-quality studies published between 2013 and March 2025, including randomized controlled trials, systematic reviews, and meta-analyses. The biological mechanisms, clinical effectiveness, safety, and implementation challenges of PRP therapy in KOA are examined.

resultsPRP injections-particularly leukocyte-poor PRP-demonstrate superior pain relief and functional improvement compared to hyaluronic acid and corticosteroids, especially in patients with mild to moderate KOA (Kellgren-Lawrence grades I-III). However, heterogeneity in PRP formulations (platelet/leukocyte content and activation protocols), injection regimens, and follow-up durations limits direct comparability across studies. Evidence from high-quality placebo-controlled trials shows inconsistent long-term benefits, with some failing to demonstrate superiority over saline beyond 6-12 months. The GRADE assessment rates the overall certainty of evidence as moderate. PRP appears safe, with few adverse events reported, but remains costly and variably reimbursed. Guidelines from major societies remain cautious or inconclusive.

conclusionsPRP is a promising, safe, and well-tolerated option for early to moderate KOA. However, the standardization of preparation protocols, patient selection criteria, and outcome reporting is essential to improve comparability and guide clinical practice.

Indexed as

clinical efficacygrowth factorshyaluronic acidintra-articular injectionknee osteoarthritis (KOA)leukocyte-poor PRPorthobiologicspain managementplatelet-rich plasma (PRP)regenerative medicine

Identifiers

PMID40507744
PMCPMC12156035

What OpenQuestion holds

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Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.