PRP INFILTRATION VERSUS CORTICOSTEROIDS: A PRELIMINARY RANDOMIZED CLINICAL TRIAL

Area of Science:

• Orthopedics
• Pain Management
• Regenerative Medicine

Background:

• Chronic low back pain is a widespread condition with substantial socioeconomic consequences.
• The rising prevalence necessitates innovative and effective treatment options.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare the effectiveness of platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injections versus corticosteroid injections for chronic low back pain caused by facet joint dysfunction.
• To evaluate pain reduction and functional improvement in patients with lumbar facet syndrome.

Main Methods:

• A randomized clinical trial was conducted with 59 patients diagnosed with facet joint origin low back pain.
• Patients received either PRP or corticosteroid injections, with outcomes assessed using disability questionnaires and the visual analog scale (VAS) at baseline, one, and three months.
• Medial branch block positivity was used for patient selection.

Main Results:

• No significant differences in disability scores or pain reduction were observed between the PRP and corticosteroid groups.
• A statistically significant interaction between treatment and time was noted (p = 0.038).
• Both interventions demonstrated comparable outcomes for pain and function at all follow-up points.

Conclusions:

• Platelet-rich plasma injections do not offer superior efficacy compared to corticosteroid injections for treating lumbar facet syndrome.
• The study provides Level I evidence from a randomized clinical trial, indicating similar therapeutic benefits for both treatments.