Effectiveness of platelete rich plasma [PRP] injections in patients with plantar fasciitis

ABSTRACT

To determine the effectiveness of PLATELETE RICH PLASMA [PRP] injection in patients with plantar fasciitis interms of improvement in at least one grade of pain on visual analogue scale at 6 weeks interval follow up. Descriptive cross sectional study. This study was conducted in Orthopedics Unit of Khyber Teaching Hospital, Peshawar from March, 2012 to Feb 2013. Patients with plantar fasciitis from the age of 20 to 50yearswho were not responding to oral medications were included in the study. There were 26 [9.38%] males and 38 [59.38%] females with mean age of 37.00 years. 45.31% patients have symptoms for 6-12 weeks where as those who had symptoms for 13-26 weeks made 48.43%of the study population. A total of 43[67.18%] patients having moderate pain before PRP only had severe pain at 6 weeks, while 25 [39.06%] had no pain, 13 [20.31%] had mild pain and 4 [6.25%] had moderate pain. Out of 21 [32.81%] patients who had severe pain before PRP, 36 [56.25%] had no pain, 18 [28.12%] had mild and 9 [14.06%] had moderate pain. Nonetheless, 3 [4.69%] had severe pain even after PRP. Over all, PRP was equally effective in patients of all ages and was more effective in men. Platelet Rich Plasma which is cheap and effective can successfully treat patients with plantar fasciitis