A randomized controlled trial between autologous platelet-rich plasma injection and corticosteroid injection in the treatment of plantar fasciitis
Pankaj Varshney1, Ajeet Kumar Verma2, Saumya Agarwal3, Shivank Prakash4, Pragya Garg5, Prachi Agrawal6
1 Department of Orthopaedics, Ruby Hall Clinic, Pune, Maharashtra, India 2 Department of Orthopaedics, Institute of Medical Sciences—Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, UP, India 3 Department of Orthopaedics, RNT Medical College & MB Govt. Hospital, Udaipur, Rajasthan, India 4 Department of Orthopaedics, Shanti Ved Institute of Medical Sciences, Agra, UP, India 5 Department of Ophthalmology, RNT Medical College & MB Govt. Hospital, Udaipur, Rajasthan, India 6 Department of Skin and VD, Pacific Medical College and Hospital, Udaipur, Rajasthan, India
Correspondence Address:
Saumya Agarwal 16 D, Old Fatehpura, Near Seva Mandir, Udaipur, Rajasthan 313001 India
 Source of Support: None, Conflict of Interest: None
DOI: 10.4103/jbjd.jbjd_1_22
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Background: Plantar fasciitis is the most common cause of chronic pain beneath the heel in adults, which may cause significant discomfort and disability. Local corticosteroid injections are a popular method of treating the condition but only seem to be useful in the short term and only to a small degree. Autologous platelet-rich plasma (PRP) is rich in growth factor, which stimulates reparative process unlike corticosteroids. Materials and Methods: A total of 30 patients were allocated in each group. Group A consisted of patients who received single 2 ml local corticosteroid injection, that is 80 mg methylprednisolone acetate, and group B consisted of patients who received single 3 cc autologous PRP injection locally. Results: The postinjection mean Foot and Ankle Ability Measure (FAAM) score was significantly higher at 4 weeks, 8 weeks, and 12 weeks in the steroid group as compared to that in the PRP group, but at 24 weeks, the mean FAAM score was significantly higher in the PRP group as compared to that in the steroid group. This shows that the maximum effect of PRP on the FAAM score was at 24 weeks, whereas in the steroid group, it was at 12 weeks. Also the maximum effect of PRP on Visual Analog Scale was at 24 weeks, whereas in the steroid group, it was at 12 weeks. There was 39.21% reduction in mean plantar fascia thickness in the steroid group and 43.27% reduction in the PRP group. Conclusion: Autologous PRP therapy is better than local corticosteroid injection in the long-term effect. |