Platelet-Rich Plasma Injections Show No Benefit in Ankle Arthritis

Platelet-rich plasma (PRP), centrifuged from the patient's own blood, has been proposed for use in a wide range of musculoskeletal conditions, although good evidence often is lacking. Meta-analyses have shown modest clinical benefit for knee arthritis, and small uncontrolled studies have shown some promise for ankle arthritis. In this multisite study, researchers randomized 100 Dutch patients (mean age, 55) with moderate-to-severe radiographically documented tibiotalar arthritis to two injections of PRP (2 mL each, 6 weeks apart) or saline solution. All patients received usual counseling and exercise education and were advised to avoid nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (because they can interfere with the purported mechanism of action fo…