A Comparative Study of Platelet-Rich Plasma V/S Corticosteroid Injection for Plantar Fasciitis

Plantar fasciitis, a chronic inflammatory condition characterized by heel pain, significantly impacts daily functioning. While corticosteroid injections are a common treatment, they are associated with limitations such as short-term efficacy and potential complications.

This prospective interventional study was conducted at Mahatma Gandhi Medical College and Research Institute, Puducherry, between August 2022 and May 2024. A total of 60 patients diagnosed with plantar fasciitis, aged 18-70 years, were randomly divided into two groups: the platelet-rich plasma (PRP) group (30 patients) and the corticosteroid group (30 patients). PRP therapy was administered using the peppering technique, while the corticosteroid group received 80 mg methylprednisolone injections. Pain and functional outcomes were assessed at baseline, second, fourth, eighth, and 12^th weeks using the visual analog scale (VAS) and Foot and Ankle Ability Measure (FAAM).

The mean age of participants was 47.30 ± 10.75 years in the PRP group and 46.13 ± 10.58 years in the corticosteroid group. Females constituted 53.3% of the PRP group and 60% of the corticosteroid group. Significant reductions in VAS scores were observed in the PRP group compared to the corticosteroid group at the second week (5.53 ± 0.776 vs. 6.47 ± 0.937, P < 0.001), fourth week (4.70 ± 0.466 vs. 5.27 ± 0.868, P = 0.003), and 12^th week (2.10 ± 0.712 vs. 2.77 ± 0.858, P = 0.002). Functional improvement, measured by FAAM scores, was significantly greater in the PRP group at the 12^th week (91.03 ± 3.943 vs. 86.13 ± 6.388, P = 0.001).

PRP therapy is a superior alternative to corticosteroid injections for the management of plantar fasciitis, providing sustained pain relief and improved functional outcomes over a 12-week period. Further large-scale, long-term studies are recommended to validate these findings.