Comparison of Pain Relief from platelet-rich plasma, Steroid, and Saline Injections in Chronic Shoulder Impingement...

Shoulder impingement syndrome (SIS) is a common cause of chronic shoulder pain, often impairing daily function. Various subacromial injection therapies are employed, including corticosteroids and platelet-rich plasma (PRP), though their comparative efficacy remains under investigation.

This study aims to assess and compare the effectiveness of subacromial injections of PRP, corticosteroids, and normal saline on pain relief in chronic SIS using the Visual Analog Scale (VAS).

This descriptive epidemiological study involved 150 patients aged over 40 years with shoulder pain lasting more than 3 months and positive clinical signs of impingement. Patients were randomly divided into three groups of 50 each: PRP Group, Steroid Group, and Normal Saline Group. A single subacromial injection was administered through the posterior approach. VAS scores were recorded during overhead activities at 4, 12, and 24 weeks post-injection.

All three groups were comparable in terms of demographic and baseline clinical characteristics. Significant pain reduction was observed in the PRP group across all follow-up intervals compared to the steroid and saline groups. The steroid group showed early pain relief, which diminished over time, while the saline group showed minimal change.

PRP injections demonstrated superior and sustained pain relief in patients with chronic SIS compared to corticosteroids and saline. PRP offers a promising, minimally invasive treatment alternative with long-term benefits, whereas corticosteroids may be more suitable for short-term symptom control.