Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42343396›Full record

SynthesisJournal of orthopaedic surgery and research2026

Comparative efficacy of platelet-rich plasma monotherapy versus combination therapies for knee osteoarthritis: a systematic review and network meta-analysis.

Dehao Luan, Xiaonan Zhang, Ziyi Zhang, Xi Man, Hai Bo

Abstract readSystematic ReviewNetwork Meta-AnalysisComparative Study
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Synthesis in Journal of orthopaedic surgery and research, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–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

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Review
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

5 authors.

Dehao LuanTianjin Key Laboratory of Exercise Physiology and Sports Medicine, Institute of Exercise and Health, Tianjin University of Sport, Tianjin, China.
Xiaonan ZhangTianjin Key Laboratory of Exercise Physiology and Sports Medicine, Institute of Exercise and Health, Tianjin University of Sport, Tianjin, China.
Ziyi ZhangTianjin Key Laboratory of Exercise Physiology and Sports Medicine, Institute of Exercise and Health, Tianjin University of Sport, Tianjin, China. zhangzy427@tjus.edu.cn.
Xi ManSchool of Physical Education, Inner Mongolia Normal University, Hohhot, Inner Mongolia, China. 20010831@imnu.edu.cn.
Hai BoDepartment of Military Training Medicines, Logistics University of Chinese People's Armed Police Force, Tianjin, China. bohaixd@126.com.

Funding

Natural Science Foundation of Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region 2025MS01030Tianjin Scientific Research Foundation 23JCYBJC00870Tianjin Scientific Research Foundation 24JCYBJC00910
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundPlatelet-rich plasma (PRP) is widely used as an intra-articular treatment for knee osteoarthritis (KOA), but whether combining PRP with hyaluronic acid (HA), mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), or ozone (O

methodsTwelve electronic databases were searched from inception to April 2026 for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) that compared intra-articular PRP alone with PRP combined with HA, MSCs, or O

resultsEighteen RCTs involving 1,376 participants met the inclusion criteria. The evidence network was star-shaped, with PRP alone serving as the sole common comparator. For WOMAC function, PRP + HA was the only combination that demonstrated a statistically significant improvement over PRP alone (MD =  - 6.16, 95% CI - 9.71 to - 2.61, P < 0.001). Differences were not significant for PRP + O

conclusionsAmong PRP-based combination therapies for KOA, the addition of HA to PRP is supported by the most consistent evidence for improving pain and function. Current data are insufficient to conclude that adding MSCs or O

Indexed as

Hyaluronic AcidMesenchymal Stem Cell TransplantationOsteoarthritis, KneeOzonePlatelet-Rich PlasmaCombined Modality TherapyHumansInjections, Intra-ArticularRandomized Controlled Trials as TopicTreatment OutcomeHyaluronic AcidOzoneHyaluronic acidKnee osteoarthritisMesenchymal stem cellsNetwork meta-analysisOzonePlatelet-rich plasma

Identifiers

PMID42343396
PMCPMC13397688

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY-NC-ND
Read underepoch 390

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.