Optimal Articular Solutions With Intraosseous and Synovial Platelet-Rich Plasma

A prospective cohort clinical study. The matched sample will be divided into two groups. Group 1 will receive two intraosseous injections of PRP and another intra-articular injection of PRP on the same day.

Group 2 will only receive two intra-articular injections of PRP, separated by one week. One week before the PRP injection, both groups will receive an intra-articular injection of 20 mg triamcinolone hexacetonide.

The PRP is obtained from an autologous blood sample. PRP production consists of a 54 mL (PRP intra-articular) and 80 mL (PRP intraosseous) sample of venous blood from the cubital vein of the patient's upper limb, using 6 x 9 ml tubes, containing a 3.2% sodium citrate solution. The tubes will be centrifuged at 2400 rpm for 12 minutes at room temperature. It is obtained a suspended concentration of PRP that is carefully extracted using a pipette to avoid aspiration of leukocytes from the buffy coat (leukocyte-poor PRP [LP-PRP]). For group 1, it will be injected 4 mL intraosseous, and 8 mL intra-articular. Group 2 will be injected 8 ml of PRP twice (one each week). A total of 8 ml of PRP will be injected into the knee.

A hemogram will be used to analyze the blood sample and the PRP to evaluate their characteristics (concentration of red blood cells, concentration of white blood cells, concentration of platelets, and mean platelet volume); with this analysis, it will be also calculated the platelet concentration growth factor (between baseline blood sample and PRP). Besides concentration, it will also be calculated the total volume of platelets injected into the knee.

All procedures will be carried out in a laminar flow chamber (0.34 m/s) to avoid contamination. Following preparation, the PRP will be injected with the minimum time elapsed since its preparation (maximum 30 minutes).

The PRP is injected after the skin is prepared and draped. If needed, synovial fluid aspiration will be done before injections. With the patient lying in a supine position on the examination table, with the knees fully extended, the PRP intra-articular injection is performed in a sterile manner via a superolateral patellar approach under ultrasound guidance (Logiq E R8, GE Healthcare).

Regarding intraosseous injections, the location and exploration of the joint line, tibial plateau, and femoral condyle will be done with ultrasound. Following the identification of the articular line through ultrasound examination, the two insertion points for the intraosseous infiltrations in the knee are marked: 2 cm below the tibiofemoral joint line for the tibial plateau and 2 cm above the tibiofemoral joint line for the femoral condyle. The procedure is done for the affected knee compartment (medial or lateral).

To ensure effective and safe analgesia during the intraosseous infiltration procedure, a solution of 1% lidocaine (10 mg/mL). In summary, a 10 mL syringe will be filled with the previously mentioned specified solution and then injected at the marked points-the tibial plateau and femoral condyle. Approximately 4-5 mL will be injected along the path until contact is made with the periosteum, where the trocar will be inserted. An additional 4-5 mL will be injected after the insertion of the trocar. A 10-20 minute time interval will be observed before proceeding with the intraosseous infiltrations. The tibial plateau and femoral condyle will be targeted, and a 15-G trocar-biopsy needle system (1.8 mm diameter, 90 mm length, Arrow OnControl Aspiration needle set, Teleflex Medical Europe Ltd., Dublin, Ireland) will be placed on the tibial and condyle entry mark points. Subsequently, the trocar will be attached to a power driver (Arrow OnControl Powered Bone Access System, Teleflex Medical Europe Ltd., Dublin, Ireland) encased in a sterile plastic sleeve. The trocar will be advanced with precision while its placement is verified using ultrasound imaging. It will be positioned 2 cm below the articular line at a 45-degree angle in the tibial plateau, and 2 cm above the articular line at a 30-degree angle, penetrating 1.5-2 cm into the bone. Accurate depth measurement is made with laser marks on the trocar, spaced 1 cm apart. Once the correct position is confirmed, the power driver will be detached, and the needle core removed. Afterward, 6 mL of activated PRP will be injected through the trocar. Following the injection, the needle core will be reinserted and reattached to the power driver, and the trocar will be withdrawn. Intraosseous infiltration will be consistently performed at the same site in all procedures, as PRP is expected to distribute uniformly across the subchondral area regardless of tissue lesions.

After injection, patients are allowed to mobilize the knee joint, walk as desired and are instructed to apply ice over the injected area for the next 24-48 hours. Patients will be requested to avoid vigorous activity for a minimum of 10 days and to avoid taking NSAIDs for 7 days after injection. Consumption of acetaminophen (max 3 gm/day) will be allowed in the management of pain during the post-intervention period.