An evaluation of the effects of Platelet Rich Plasma -PRPcompared to Sodium Hyaluronate -SH- in the treatment of temporomandibular joint OsteoArthritis -OA

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and complications of (intra-articular) temporomandibular joint (TMJ) injections of 40 patients with TMJ osteoarthritis. Subjects were randomly divided into two groups, and patients received either one intra-articular injection of sodium hyaluronate (SH) or one intra-articular injection of platelet rich plasma (PRP). Effect of treatment was evaluated 10 days, 20 days, and 2 months after the initial injection and it was based on pain intensity and mandibular function. Both groups of patients had less pain intensity at the 20-days follow-up, and there was significantly less pain intensity in the group of patients receiving PRP, compared to sodium hyaluronate’s one (P 0.05)) at the 2 months period. In both groups, mandibular vertical opening was similar at the two month period. In conclusion, this study confirms that TMJ injection with PRP or sodium hyaluronate may reduce pain and improve function in patients with TMJ osteoarthritis. However, PRP injection was significantly more efficient in decreasing pain intensity after several months.