Comparative study between platelet-rich plasma injection and steroid injection in mild–moderate shoulder osteoarthritis and their relation to quality of life

Abstract EN

Context Osteoarthritis (OA) is a degenerative joint disorder that causes joint pain and stiffness.

Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) is considered a recent effective line of management of OA.

Aims To compare the effect of local injection of PRP versus steroid in shoulder OA and their relation to quality of life.

Patients and methods This study included 50 patients with mild–moderate OA shoulder diagnosed according to Samilson and Prieto grading system of shoulder OA and were recruited from the outpatient clinic of physical medicine, and rehabilitation, Faculty of Medicine, Menoufia University Hospital, in the period between 2017 and 2018.

The study included both sexes.

Group I included 25 patients who were injected intra-articularly with PRP in the affected shoulder, and group II included 25 patients who were injected with triamcinolone acetate.

They were evaluated by Western Ontario Osteoarthritis Shoulder index and visual analogue scale before and after injection.

Statistical analysis A descriptive and analytic study by SPSS, version 16, on IBM compatible computer was done.

Results There was a highly statistical significant difference between preinjection and postinjection parameters regarding Western Ontario Osteoarthritis Shoulder score and visual analogue scale in both groups, with more improvement in the PRP group.

Conclusion Intra-articular injections with PRP and steroids are effective less-invasive lines of shoulder OA treatment, with superiority to PRP owing to more persistence of its effects.