Abstract
BACKGROUND: This study aimed to compare the effects of different treatments on quality of life in knee osteoarthritis patients. It focused on three therapies: bone marrow aspirate concentrate (BMAC), platelet-rich plasma (PRP), and hyaluronic acid (HA). METHODOLOGY: The trial was conducted at a single center with 175 patients over a 12-month period with the knee OA, KL grade II-IV. Outcomes were measured using the WOMAC (Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index) and SF-36 scales, which assess physical and emotional well-being. Linear mixed models (LMMs) were used to analyze which treatment had the most positive impact on quality of life. RESULTS: Patients treated with BMAC showed the most substantial improvement, particularly in physical health and mobility (p ≤ 0,001). PRP outperformed HA in some aspects, but BMAC consistently led to greater gains. The most notable enhancements were seen in areas like role limitations due to physical health and overall physical functioning. CONCLUSIONS: The study suggested that BMAC treatment may contribute to improved quality of life in patients with knee osteoarthritis, particularly in terms of physical function. The correlation between WOMAC and SF-36 scores supports these findings, indicating a potential role for BMAC in enhancing mobility. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION: NCT03825133 (ClinicalTrials.gov).