Safety and efficacy of platelet-rich plasma injections in basal thumb osteoarthritis; should we offer it or not?

Nonsurgical therapeutic approaches for thumb carpometacarpal (CMC) osteoarthritis (OA) often offer only inconsistent symptom relief and fail to restore hand function. Intra-articular platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injections have recently emerged as a promising alternative, with encouraging outcomes in knees and hips. This systematic review and meta-analysis aims to highlight the safety and efficacy of PRP injections in thumb CMC OA. A systematic review was completed using Medline, Embase, and Cochrane. Primary outcomes focused on patients with basal thumb osteoarthritis treated with intra-articular PRP injections. Patient characteristics, product administration, functional outcomes and complications were analyzed as means of central tendency. A meta-analysis was performed focusing on pain relief and improvement in hand function. Seven articles were included, comprising 115 patients with an average age of 62.6 years, predominantly female (67.0 %). Patients received an average of 1.4 PRP injections per joint, with an average follow-up of 14.1 months. Control groups were administered corticosteroids, normal saline, and hyaluronic acid. All PRP-treated patients resumed their prior activities of daily living with a satisfaction rate at 73.7 % (n = 76). Statistically significant pain reduction (n = 98) and improvement in pinch strength were reported, while no statistically significant improvement in grip strength was observed (n = 39). No adverse events occurred, with only one complication (a palmar wrist ganglion) reported. Intra-articular PRP injections in thumb CMC OA yields favorable outcomes for pain relief and hand function without major complications. However, procedural and data heterogeneity affect reliability. Further randomized controlled trials comparing PRP and cortisone injections are needed.