Publication:

Clinical and functional outcome comparison for platelet rich plasma with steroid injection in patients with isolated subacromial impingement syndrome

Background To compare the 6-weeks, 3 and 6 months outcome in 80 patients who received an injection of platelet-rich plasma (PRP) or steroid for sub-acromial impingement syndrome (SIS).

Methods There were 42 males and 38 females received a single-dose injection of PRP (n=40) or steroid (n=40) for SIS that had not responded to conservative treatment for more than 6 months. Both groups were put on physiotherapy protocol followed in our institution. The use of non-steroid anti-inflammatory drugs was prohibited. Patients were evaluated before and 6 weeks, 3 and 6 months after treatment using the constant score, visual analogue scale (VAS) for pain, and range of motion (ROM) of the shoulder.

Results No local or systemic complication occurred. Improvement in the constant score and VAS for pain at week 6, 3 and month 6 was clinically better following steroid than PRP injection. However, this difference was statistically insignificant.  The 2 groups were comparable for improvement in ROM of the shoulder.

Conclusions PRP injection was not more effective than steroid injection for treatment of SIS in terms of at the end of 6 months. However, long term studies should be indicated to substantiate the findings.