ClinicalTrials.gg
RecruitingNCT07231471PRP for MSKUpdated May 6, 2026

Platelet Rich Plasma for Musculoskeletal Conditions

An interventional study of Platelet Rich Plasma Injection and Platelet Rich Plasma Preparation in Osteoarthritis (OA), Osteoarthritis (OA) of the Knee and Osteoarthritis (OA) of the Hip, sponsored by University of Utah. Recruiting at 1 site in United States. Open to participants aged 18 Years and older, including healthy volunteers. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2026-05-06.

Sponsored by University of Utah · Not applicable, Interventional, and Treatment

From the registry’s dates

  • Started Dec 2025; still recruiting 10 months later.
Phase
Not applicable
Study type
Interventional
Enrollment
10,000
Allocation
Not applicable
Ages
18 Years and older
Sex
All
01

Study summary

The primary purpose of this study is to follow patients with various musculoskeletal (MSK) conditions over a one-year follow-up period after receiving a platelet rich plasma (PRP) injection, assessing changes in their pain levels, functional abilities, and overall patient satisfaction.

This will develop a robust registry of patients treated with PRP for a range of MSK conditions. These conditions include, but are not limited to, osteoarthritis (OA) of the knee, hip, glenohumeral joint, elbow, ankle, and sacroiliac joint, as well as rotator cuff tendinopathy, lateral and medial epicondylitis, plantar fasciitis, patellar tendinopathy, Achilles tendinopathy, and proximal hamstring tendinopathy.

Read the detailed description

Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP) is an injectable preparation of a patient's blood that can be used for numerous conditions and has received significant attention over the past several years for its potential application for the treatment of pain and functional impairment due to osteoarthritis (OA) and other musculoskeletal conditions. Research on PRP has expanded dramatically over the last several decades, elevating its status from snake oil to a proven injection option superior to corticosteroids. It has demonstrated superior efficacy to standard-of-care corticosteroids in numerous musculoskeletal conditions. Systematic reviews of randomized-controlled trials have demonstrated equivalent-to-superior treatment outcomes associated with the use of intra-articular PRP compared to placebo, hyaluronic acid, and corticosteroid for the most commonly-studied condition, knee OA. Most importantly, just as corticosteroids have been used in numerous musculoskeletal conditions (OA, tendinopathy, bursitis, etc.), PRP has the same potential, but with vastly reduced risk; corticosteroids have many known dangers. To summarize, PRP has demonstrated level 1 evidence of superiority to corticosteroids in pain and function in numerous musculoskeletal conditions, with considerably less risk.

This study will evaluate pain, function, and overall patient satisfaction outcomes for the use of PRP for the treatment of a diverse MSK conditions, including, but not limited to, OA of the knee, hip, glenohumeral joint, elbow, ankle, and sacroiliac joint, as well as rotator cuff tendinopathy, lateral and medial epicondylitis, plantar fasciitis, patellar tendinopathy, Achilles tendinopathy, and proximal hamstring tendinopathy.

02

Conditions studied

  • Osteoarthritis (OA)
  • Osteoarthritis (OA) of the Knee
  • Osteoarthritis (OA) of the Hip
  • Osteoarthritis (OA) of the Shoulder
  • Osteoarthritis Ankle
  • Elbow Osteoarthritis
  • Epicondylitis of the Elbow
  • Plantar Fasciitis of Both Feet
  • Tendinopathy

Keywords

  • PRP
  • Platelet Rich Plasma
  • Osteoarthritis
  • Tendinopathy
03

In context

Osteoarthritis

2,974 studies on the registry are indexed under Osteoarthritis; 438 are open to participants now.

This study's planned enrollment of 10,000 is above the median of 80 across 2,240 interventional studies indexed under Osteoarthritis.

Browse Osteoarthritis studies →

Lead sponsor

University of Utah is the lead sponsor of 994 studies on the registry; 175 are open to participants now.

Of its 114 completed or terminated interventional studies of FDA-regulated products, 69 (61%) have results posted.

Counted across the registry records on this site, refreshed daily.

04

Who can participate

Ages eligible
18 Years and older
Sexes eligible
All
Accepts healthy volunteers
Yes

Go through the criteria one by one — yes, no or not sure — and take the list to your doctor or the study team. Kept in this browser only.

Inclusion criteria

  • 18+ years old
  • Musculoskeletal pathology that may benefit from a PRP injection
  • Failed other conservative treatments

Exclusion criteria

Exclusion Criteria:

  • No active
  • No active infection in the area of injection
  • No disorder
  • No active systemic infections
  • No patients currently undergoing dialysis
Terms in these criteria, in plain language(2)

Underlined terms in the criteria open these too. Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.

Cancer (malignancy)

Malignancy means cancer. Criteria about another or earlier malignancy ask whether you have had a different cancer, usually within a set number of years.

Some are commonly allowed, such as treated skin cancers other than melanoma and early cancers removed completely — check the exceptions this study lists.

Platelets

Blood cells that help blood clot. Too few raises the risk of bleeding and bruising. A usual adult range is about 150–400 × 10⁹/L (150,000–400,000 per µL); each lab has its own reference range.

05

Study design

Phase
Not applicable
Primary purpose
Treatment
Allocation
Not applicable
Intervention model
Single group
Masking
None (open label)
Enrollment
10,000 participants (estimated)

Study arms

  • Experimental
    Platelet Rich Plasma Injection

    Participants who are eligible and provide consent to participate will undergo a Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP) injection. Their whole blood and the produced PRP will be analyzed using a cell counter, and they will be asked to complete follow-up surveys at 2 weeks, 6 weeks, 3 months, 6 months, and 12 months..

    Biological: Platelet Rich Plasma Injection · Device: Platelet Rich Plasma Preparation

Interventions

  • Participants who are eligible and provide consent to participate will undergo a Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP) injection. Their blood will be analyzed using a cell counter, and they will be asked to complete follow-up surveys at 2 weeks, 6 weeks, 3 months, 6 months, and 12 months.

  • DevicePlatelet Rich Plasma Preparation

    The patient's blood is collected into syringes. That blood is spun in a centrifuge at high speeds, which separates their blood into layers (red blood cells, white blood cells, and plasma). The plasma portion, which contains the platelets, is transferred to a different syringe for later injection. In some cases, the plasma is spun in the centrifuge again (a "double spin" technique) to further concentrate the platelets in the plasma. The patient's blood is not exposed to air, and it is transferred by tubing between syringes with a Luer Lock connection.

06

What researchers measure

Primary outcomes

  1. Visual analog score (pain)

    The VAS is a 0 to 10 scale, with zero being no pain and ten being the worst pain imaginable for their condition

    Time frame: 6 months

Secondary outcomes

  1. Visual Analog Score (pain)

    The VAS is a 0 to 10 scale, with zero being no pain and ten being the worst pain imaginable for their condition

    Time frame: 1, 3, and 12 months

  2. Global satisfaction

    From a scale of 0 to 100, the subject assesses their total satisfaction with the affected body part. Zero is no satisfaction, while 100 is complete satisfaction.

    Time frame: 1, 3, 6, 12 months

  3. Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Arthritis Index (knee)

    The WOMAC is a self-administered questionnaire used to evaluate pain, stiffness, and physical function in people with hip and knee osteoarthritis. Only for patients with knee OA. WOMAC scoring involves summing the scores from its three subscales: pain (5 items), stiffness (2 items), and physical function (17 items). Each subscale has a maximum score (Pain: 20, Stiffness: 8, Physical Function: 68), and a total WOMAC score is calculated by adding these three sub-scores together, for a possible total range of 0-96. Higher scores indicate worse symptoms and function.

    Time frame: 1, 3, 6, 12 months

  4. Disorders of the Arm, Shoulder, and Hand (QuickDASH)

    The QuickDASH an 11-item patient-reported questionnaire used to measure physical function and symptoms in people with musculoskeletal disorders of the upper limb (arm, shoulder, and hand). To score the QuickDASH, the first sum is the scores from the 11 items, each rated on a 1-5 Likert scale. The sum is then used in the formula: QuickDASH Score = (\[(sum of n responses)/n\]-1)\*25), where (n) is the number of completed items. A minimum of 10 out of 11 items must be completed to calculate a score, and the final score ranges from 0 (no disability) to 100 (most severe disability).

    Time frame: 1, 3, 6, 12 months

  5. International Hip Outcome Tool 12 (IHOT12)

    This is a 12-item patient-reported outcome measure (PROM) used to assess the health-related quality of life in young, active patients with hip problems. Each question is scored from 0 (worst symptoms/function) to 100 (best symptoms/function). The scores are averaged from all questions, and the final score ranges from 0 (worst symptoms/function) to 100 (best symptoms/function).

    Time frame: 1, 3, 6, 12 months

  6. Foot and Ankle Outcome Score (FAOS)

    The FAOS is a patient-reported questionnaire that measures a person's foot and ankle symptoms and functional status. It is divided into five subscales: pain, other symptoms, function in daily living, function in sports and recreation, and quality of life. Scores for each subscale range from 0 to 100, where 100 represents no symptoms and 0 indicates the worst possible symptoms.

    Time frame: 1, 3, 6, 12 months

  7. EQ-5D

    The EQ-5D is a self-report questionnaire that measures health-related quality of life across five dimensions: mobility, self-care, usual activities, pain/discomfort, and anxiety/depression. It consists of two parts of the EURO-QOL. The first is an index score, calculated from a 5-digit health state code that corresponds to a person's self-reported level of problems in five dimensions (mobility, self-care, usual activities, pain/discomfort, and anxiety/depression). It is calculated by applying a formula to the 5-digit descriptive system code (e.g., 11111 for no problems). This formula uses "social preference weights" for each level in each dimension. A score of 1 represents perfect health, while 0 represents death. Negative scores are possible for health states considered "worse than dead". The second is an EQ-VAS score, a direct self-assessment on a visual analog scale from 0 (worst imaginable health) to 100 (best imaginable health).

    Time frame: 1, 3, 6, 12 months

07

Study locations

1 of 1 sites recruiting
  • University of Utah Orthoaedic Center
    Salt Lake City, Utah 84111-1334, United States
    Recruiting
08

References and documents

Publications

  • Cushman DM, Johnson LA, Burnham T, Nelson R, Egbert J, Burnham R. An evaluation of a low-cost platelet-rich plasma for osteoarthritis of the knee: A pilot study. J Exp Orthop. 2025 Sep 5;12(3):e70420. doi: 10.1002/jeo2.70420. eCollection 2025 Jul. PubMed 40919485 ↗
  • Baria MR, Vasileff WK, Borchers J, DiBartola A, Flanigan DC, Plunkett E, Magnussen RA. Treating Knee Osteoarthritis With Platelet-Rich Plasma and Hyaluronic Acid Combination Therapy: A Systematic Review. Am J Sports Med. 2022 Jan;50(1):273-281. doi: 10.1177/0363546521998010. Epub 2021 Apr 8. PubMed 33831332 ↗
  • Elksnins-Finogejevs A, Vidal L, Peredistijs A. Intra-articular platelet-rich plasma vs corticosteroids in the treatment of moderate knee osteoarthritis: a single-center prospective randomized controlled study with a 1-year follow up. J Orthop Surg Res. 2020 Jul 10;15(1):257. doi: 10.1186/s13018-020-01753-z. PubMed 32650801 ↗
  • Forogh B, Mianehsaz E, Shoaee S, Ahadi T, Raissi GR, Sajadi S. Effect of single injection of platelet-rich plasma in comparison with corticosteroid on knee osteoarthritis: a double-blind randomized clinical trial. J Sports Med Phys Fitness. 2016 Jul-Aug;56(7-8):901-8. Epub 2015 Jul 14. PubMed 26173792 ↗
  • Joshi Jubert N, Rodriguez L, Reverte-Vinaixa MM, Navarro A. Platelet-Rich Plasma Injections for Advanced Knee Osteoarthritis: A Prospective, Randomized, Double-Blinded Clinical Trial. Orthop J Sports Med. 2017 Feb 13;5(2):2325967116689386. doi: 10.1177/2325967116689386. eCollection 2017 Feb. PubMed 28255569 ↗
  • Tan J, Chen H, Zhao L, Huang W. Platelet-Rich Plasma Versus Hyaluronic Acid in the Treatment of Knee Osteoarthritis: A Meta-analysis of 26 Randomized Controlled Trials. Arthroscopy. 2021 Jan;37(1):309-325. doi: 10.1016/j.arthro.2020.07.011. Epub 2020 Jul 15. PubMed 32679294 ↗
  • Habib GS. Systemic effects of intra-articular corticosteroids. Clin Rheumatol. 2009 Jul;28(7):749-56. doi: 10.1007/s10067-009-1135-x. Epub 2009 Feb 28. PubMed 19252817 ↗
  • Dai WL, Zhou AG, Zhang H, Zhang J. Efficacy of Platelet-Rich Plasma in the Treatment of Knee Osteoarthritis: A Meta-analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials. Arthroscopy. 2017 Mar;33(3):659-670.e1. doi: 10.1016/j.arthro.2016.09.024. Epub 2016 Dec 22. PubMed 28012636 ↗
  • Chu J, Duan W, Yu Z, Tao T, Xu J, Ma Q, Zhao L, Guo JJ. Intra-articular injections of platelet-rich plasma decrease pain and improve functional outcomes than sham saline in patients with knee osteoarthritis. Knee Surg Sports Traumatol Arthrosc. 2022 Dec;30(12):4063-4071. doi: 10.1007/s00167-022-06887-7. Epub 2022 Feb 6. PubMed 35124707 ↗
  • Nie LY, Zhao K, Ruan J, Xue J. Effectiveness of Platelet-Rich Plasma in the Treatment of Knee Osteoarthritis: A Meta-analysis of Randomized Controlled Clinical Trials. Orthop J Sports Med. 2021 Mar 2;9(3):2325967120973284. doi: 10.1177/2325967120973284. eCollection 2021 Mar. PubMed 33718505 ↗
  • Singh H, Knapik DM, Polce EM, Eikani CK, Bjornstad AH, Gursoy S, Perry AK, Westrick JC, Yanke AB, Verma NN, Cole BJ, Chahla JA. Relative Efficacy of Intra-articular Injections in the Treatment of Knee Osteoarthritis: A Systematic Review and Network Meta-analysis. Am J Sports Med. 2022 Sep;50(11):3140-3148. doi: 10.1177/03635465211029659. Epub 2021 Aug 17. PubMed 34403285 ↗
  • Belk JW, Kraeutler MJ, Houck DA, Goodrich JA, Dragoo JL, McCarty EC. Platelet-Rich Plasma Versus Hyaluronic Acid for Knee Osteoarthritis: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials. Am J Sports Med. 2021 Jan;49(1):249-260. doi: 10.1177/0363546520909397. Epub 2020 Apr 17. PubMed 32302218 ↗
  • Laudy AB, Bakker EW, Rekers M, Moen MH. Efficacy of platelet-rich plasma injections in osteoarthritis of the knee: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Br J Sports Med. 2015 May;49(10):657-72. doi: 10.1136/bjsports-2014-094036. Epub 2014 Nov 21. PubMed 25416198 ↗
  • O'Dowd A. Update on the Use of Platelet-Rich Plasma Injections in the Management of Musculoskeletal Injuries: A Systematic Review of Studies From 2014 to 2021. Orthop J Sports Med. 2022 Dec 9;10(12):23259671221140888. doi: 10.1177/23259671221140888. eCollection 2022 Dec. PubMed 36532150 ↗
  • Xiong Y, Gong C, Peng X, Liu X, Su X, Tao X, Li Y, Wen Y, Li W. Efficacy and safety of platelet-rich plasma injections for the treatment of osteoarthritis: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Front Med (Lausanne). 2023 Jun 27;10:1204144. doi: 10.3389/fmed.2023.1204144. eCollection 2023. PubMed 37441691 ↗

Individual participant data

Plan to share: No

09

Updates

Tracking since Sep 25, 2026
No changes since tracking began. The registry record was last updated on May 6, 2026, before this site started recording changes on Sep 25, 2026. Its history is on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗
10

Registry details

Key details

Study ID
NCT07231471
Lead sponsor
University of Utah
Responsible party
Daniel Cushman (Principal Investigator, Clinical Professor, University of Utah) — Principal investigator
First posted
Nov 17, 2025
Start date
Dec 29, 2025
Primary completion
Jan 1, 2035 (estimated)
Completion
Jan 1, 2035 (estimated)
Last update
May 6, 2026

Study contacts

Christina Geisler, MS
Contact
christina.geisler@utah.edu
18012133379
Jamie Egbert, MS
Contact
jamie.egbert@utah.edu

Oversight

Data monitoring committee
No
FDA-regulated drug
No
FDA-regulated device
Yes
View the source record on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

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