The role of platelets rich plasma in the treatment of avascular necrosis of femoral head: Review article

Abstract

Avascular Necrosis (AVN) of the femoral head is debilitating condition characterized by the death of bone tissue due compromised blood supply leading to progressive joint destruction and functional impairment. Current treatment modalities including pharmacological interventions core decompression osteotomy and total hip arthroplasty often have limitations particularly in early-stage AVN., Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP) a concentrated source of growth factors derived from autologous blood has emerged as a promising therapeutic option due to its regenerative properties PRP promotes angiogenesis, osteogenesis chondroprotection and anti-inflammatory responses addressing the underlying pathophysiology of AVN. This review evaluates the current evidence on the role of PRP in treating AVN focusing on its mechanisms of action clinical efficacy, safety profile and future directions. Data from clinical trials, systematic reviews, and meta-analyses are included to provide a comprehensive analysis While PRP shows significant potential in improving pain, functional outcomes, and delaying femoral head collapse challenges such as lack of standardization, limited long-term data and variability in patient selection remain, Future research should focus on optimizing PRP preparation protocols exploring combination therapies and conducting large-scale Randomized Controlled Trials (RCTs) with long-term follow-up to establish definitive evidence.