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Platelet-Rich Plasma Versus Corticosteroid Injection in the Treatment of Arthropathic Chronic Low Back Pain: Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

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Abstract

Purpose of Review

Low back pain (LBP) is the leading cause of global disability. Recently, there has been an interest in using platelet-rich plasma (PRP) to relieve pain and improve functional status in patients with chronic LBP. We performed a systematic review with meta-analysis to compare the clinical efficacy of PRP against corticosteroid for the treatment of LBP.

Recent Findings

Recent randomized controlled trials have suggested that PRP injections may have additional benefit over corticosteroid injections for the treatment of LBP.

Summary

In our pooled analysis, the corticosteroid group was found to have reduced pain and Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) scores compared to PRP at 1 month but there was no significant difference at 3 and 6 months. There is some evidence to suggest that PRP may be more effective for long-term pain reduction.

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Acknowledgements

We would like to acknowledge Dr. YungTai Lo for his assistance and guidance of our statistical analyses.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University Department of Orthopaedics and Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation, Brooklyn, NY, USA

    Elver S. Ho, Andrew Tom, Michael Khalil, Sanjeev Agarwal & Derek J. Ho

  2. Montefiore Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, New York, NY, USA

    Anusha Lekshminarayanan & Yungtai Lo

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  1. Elver S. Ho
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Ho, E.S., Lekshminarayanan, A., Tom, A. et al. Platelet-Rich Plasma Versus Corticosteroid Injection in the Treatment of Arthropathic Chronic Low Back Pain: Systematic Review and Meta-analysis. Curr Phys Med Rehabil Rep 11, 163–175 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40141-023-00399-2

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