Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injections after joint puncture may provide significant pain relief in patients with temporomandibular joint osteoarthritis (TMJOA), according to a review published recently in BMC Oral Health.
Additionally, PRP treatment may improve mouth opening and joint sounds in these patients, the authors wrote.
"Intra-articular PRP injection after joint puncture demonstrates a promising therapeutic effect for TMJOA," wrote the authors, led by Feng Xu of the Jiujiang University Affiliated Hospital in China (BMC Oral Health, April 3, 2025, Vol. 25, 475).
The research team conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to assess whether intra-articular PRP injections following joint puncture support recovery in patients with TMJOA.
After screening databases, six studies met the inclusion criteria, comprising 199 patients. The primary outcome evaluated was pain reduction, while secondary outcomes included improvements in maximum mouth opening (MMO) and joint sounds.
PRP injections significantly reduced pain in TMJOA patients compared to the control group (standard mean difference [SMD] = -0.99, 95% confidence interval [CI]: -1.35 to -0.63, p < 0.00001, I² = 59%). Additionally, PRP also significantly improved MMO compared to controls (SMD = 0.63, 95% CI: 0.30 to 0.95, p < 0.0002, I² = 54%), they wrote.
However, in four studies with a 12-month follow-up, there was no statistically significant improvement in MMO (SMD = 0.40, 95% CI: -0.14 to 0.94, p = 0.15; I² = 63%). Furthermore, in studies using PRP prepared with lower centrifugation speeds, joint sounds improved significantly in the PRP group compared to the control group (SMD = -0.45, 95% CI: -0.87 to -0.03, p = 0.04, I² = 0%).
Nevertheless, the study had limitations. To enlarge the sample size, studies involving combination therapies were included. However, it remains unclear whether PRP works synergistically with other treatments, the authors added.
"Our findings indicate that PRP injection after joint puncture effectively alleviates pain in TMJOA patients both in the short term and long term," they concluded.
