Abstract
Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injections are often used for the treatment of knee osteoarthritis
(OA), despite clinical value and cost-effectiveness not being definitely established.
PRP injections are considered as a potential means of reducing pain and improving
function in patients with knee OA, in the hope of delaying or avoiding the need for
surgical intervention. Centers that offer PRP injections usually charge patients out
of pocket and directly market services. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to
quantify the current (1) prices and (2) marketed clinical efficacy of autologous PRP
injections for knee OA. A prospective cross-sectional study was performed based on
286 centers identified in the United States offering PRP injections for knee OA. A
total of 179 (73.4%) centers were successfully contacted via e-mail or phone, using
a simulated 52-year-old male patient with knee OA. Scripted questions were asked by
the simulated patient to determine the current marketed prices and clinical efficacy,
either reported as “good results” or “symptomatic improvement,” claimed by each treating
center. The mean price for a single unilateral knee same-day PRP injection was $714
with a standard deviation of $144 (95% confidence interval [CI]: $691–737, n = 153). The mean claim of clinical efficacy was 76% with a standard deviation of
11% (95% CI: 73.5–78.3%, n = 84). Out of the 84 clinics, 10 claimed “90 to 100% efficacy,” 27 claimed “80 to
90%,” 29 claimed “70 to 80%,” 9 claimed “60 to 70%,” 8 claimed “50 to 60%,” and 1
claimed “40 to 60%.” These findings provide a unique perspective on the PRP market
for the treatment of knee OA that is valuable to physicians and health care providers
in providing better education to patients on the associated costs and purported clinical
benefits of PRP injections.
Keywords
knee - osteoarthritis - biologics - platelet-rich plasma
