Date of Award
2019
Degree Type
Selective Evidence-Based Medicine Review
Degree Name
Master of Science in Health Sciences - Physician Assistant
Department
Physician Assistant Studies
Department Chair
Laura Levy, DHSc, PA-C
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: The objective of this selective EBM review is to determine whether or not, “Is Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP) a more effective treatment in reducing pain than corticosteroid (CS) injections in musculoskeletal injuries?”
STUDY DESIGN: Review of three, double blind, randomized controlled trials (RCTs), published between 2013 and 2016, all in the English language were included. The articles compared platelet-rich plasma (PRP) and corticosteroid (CS) injections to a visually matched placebo of saline in regard to reduction of pain from baseline in varying different musculoskeletal injuries.
DATA SOURCES: Three RCTs were found using PubMed and Google Scholar. All articles were published in peer reviewed journals and selected based on their correlation to the topic of choice, the date of publication, and their ability in evaluating POEMs.
OUTCOMES MEASURED: Patient reported pain level, as measured by visual analog scale (VAS) score as well was joint specific scoring, such as the Patient-Rated Tennis Elbow Evaluation (PRTEE).
RESULTS: Forogh et al. and Mahindra et al. determined that both PRP and CS injections significantly reduced pain in knee osteoarthritis and chronic plantar fasciitis, respectively. However, Forogh et al. concluded that PRP had significantly better outcomes at 2 and 6 months follow up. Mahindra et al. concluded that CS injections had better outcomes at 3 weeks and 3 months follow up, whereas, PRP injections showed better outcomes at 3 months follow up. Krogh et al. determined that there was no significant difference in pain reduction comparing CS and PRP injections to a placebo injection.
CONCLUSION: Based off the data collected from the three RCTs, it is inconclusive whether platelet-rich plasma is a more effective treatment that corticosteroid injections in musculoskeletal injuries.
Recommended Citation
Gazzola, Nicole, "Is Platelet-rich Plasma (PRP) a More Effective Treatment In Reducing Pain than Corticosteroid (CS) Injections in Musculoskeletal Injuries?" (2019). PCOM Physician Assistant Studies Student Scholarship. 480.
https://digitalcommons.pcom.edu/pa_systematic_reviews/480