Comparative Efficacy of PRP Combined with Acupoint Injection, PRP Monotherapy, and HA Injection in Knee Osteoarthritis: Evaluation of Short- and Long-Term Outcomes

Hui Zhao, Jiahao Yang, Puji Peng, Hongyun Liu, Junhua Wei, Binqiang Chen, Sanhu Wang and Hongjun Zhang

Henan High-tech Industrial Company Limited, Henan Academy of Sciences, Zhengzhou, China Department of Orthopedics, Zhengzhou University People's Hospital, Henan Provincial People's Hospital, Zhengzhou, China

^*Correspondance to: Hui Zhao 

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Abstract:

Objective: This study aims to compare the short- and long-term effects of intra-articular Platelet- Rich Plasma (PRP) injections combined with acupoint injections versus PRP injections alone and hyaluronic acid (HA) intra-articular injections in the treatment of knee osteoarthritis. Methods: Ninety patients with knee osteoarthritis were randomly divided into three groups: (1) PRP combined with acupoint injection (30 patients); (2) PRP intra-articular injection alone (30 patients); and (3) HA intra-articular injection alone (30 patients). Outcomes were assessed using the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC), Hospital for Special Surgery (HSS) score, Knee Society Score (KSS), and Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) to evaluate pain, mobility, activity level, joint stability, daily life impact, and patient satisfaction. Independent evaluators conducted all scoring and statistical analyses. Results: The cohort had a mean age of 52.3 ± 0.96 years and consisted of 55.7% females and 44.3% males. All groups showed significant improvements in knee pain, mobility, and satisfaction within 1 to 3 months post-injection compared to baseline, with the HA group demonstrating the most pronounced short-term benefits (P < 0.05). At the 6-month follow-up, the PRP combined with acupoint injection group and PRP injection group exhibited superior outcomes compared to the HA group (P<0.05). By 12 months, the PRP combined with acupoint injection group achieved significantly better scores than both the PRP injection and HA groups (P < 0.05). Conclusion: Combining PRP injections with acupoint injections at Blood Sea, Yanglingquan, and Huizhong points provides significant and sustained improvements in symptom relief and knee joint mobility for patients with knee osteoarthritis.

Keywords:

Platelet-rich plasma; Hyaluronic acid; Osteoarthritis of the knee; Acupoint injection

Cite the Article:

Zhao H, Yang J, Peng P, Liu H, Wei J, Chen B. Comparative Efficacy of PRP Combined with Acupoint Injection, PRP Monotherapy, and HA Injection in Knee Osteoarthritis: Evaluation of Short- and Long-Term Outcomes. Ann Clin Case Rep. 2025; 10: 2710..