PRPr injection effective treatment option for Discogenic Low Back Pain

Written By : Dr Supreeth D R |Medically Reviewed By : Dr. Kamal Kant Kohli Published On 2022-03-21T09:00:05+05:30 | Updated On 21 March 2022 9:00 AM IST

Tsu, Japan: The Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors Study 2017 (GBD 2017) conducted in 195 countries for 354 medical conditions reported that low back pain (LBP) was the leading cause of worldwide productivity loss and disability, with enormous socioeconomic and health impacts. Clinical application of platelet-rich plasma is gaining popularity in treating low back pain (LBP). Koji Akeda et al conducted a study investigated the efficacy and safety of platelet-rich plasma releasate (PRPr) injection into degenerated discs of patients with discogenic LBP.

A randomized, double-blind, active-controlled clinical trial was conducted.

Randomization of study patients in either the PRPr or the CS group on a 1:1 bias was performed in the institutional clinical research center.

Sixteen patients with discogenic LBP received an intradiscal injection of either autologous PRPr or corticosteroid (CS). Patients in both groups who wished to have PRPr treatment received an optional injection of PRPr eight weeks later.

The primary outcome was change in VAS from baseline at eight weeks. Secondary outcomes were pain, disability, quality of life (QOL), image analyses of disc degeneration, and safety for up to 60 weeks.

Results:

• The VAS change at eight weeks did not significantly differ between the two groups.

• Fifteen patients received the optional injection.

• Compared to the CS group, the PRPr group had a significantly improved disability score at 26 weeks and walking ability scores at four and eight weeks. Radiographic disc height and MRI grading score were unchanged from baseline.

• PRPr caused no clinically important adverse events.

• PRPr injection showed clinically significant improvements in LBP intensity equal to that of CS.

• PRPr treatment relieved pain, and improved disability and QOL during 60 weeks of observation.

Keywords: intervertebral disc degeneration; platelet-rich plasma; corticosteroid; low back pain

MBBS, Dip. Ortho, DNB ortho, MNAMS

Dr Supreeth D R (MBBS, Dip. Ortho, DNB ortho, MNAMS) is a practicing orthopedician with interest in medical research and publishing articles. He completed MBBS from mysore medical college, dip ortho from Trivandrum medical college and sec. DNB from Manipal Hospital, Bengaluru. He has expirence of 7years in the field of orthopedics. He has presented scientific papers & posters in various state, national and international conferences. His interest in writing articles lead the way to join medical dialogues. He can be contacted at editorial@medicaldialogues.in.

Dr. Kamal Kant Kohli

Dr Kamal Kant Kohli-MBBS, DTCD- a chest specialist with more than 30 years of practice and a flair for writing clinical articles, Dr Kamal Kant Kohli joined Medical Dialogues as a Chief Editor of Medical News. Besides writing articles, as an editor, he proofreads and verifies all the medical content published on Medical Dialogues including those coming from journals, studies,medical conferences,guidelines etc. Email: drkohli@medicaldialogues.in. Contact no. 011-43720751