Highlights
- Today’s Research Article: Long-Term Relief for Tough Back Pain, Backed by Gold-Standard Research
- Questions from the Field: "I Get It Done in 37 Minutes" – The PRP Consult Script That Works
- Let’s Get Down to Business: Brand Strategy is More Than a Logo — It's the Voice of Your Practice
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Today’s Research Article
Lumbar Intradiskal Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP) Injections: A Prospective, Double-Blind, Randomized Controlled Study
Yetsa A. Tuakli-Wosornu, MD, MPH, Alon Terry, MD, Kwadwo Boachie-Adjei, BS, CPH, Julian R. Harrison, BS, Caitlin K. Gribbin, BA, Elizabeth E. LaSalle, BS, Joseph T. Nguyen, MPH, Jennifer L. Solomon, MD, Gregory E. Lutz, MD
Summary:
This double-blind, randomized controlled study evaluated the effectiveness of intradiskal platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injections in patients with chronic lumbar discogenic low back pain unresponsive to conservative treatments. Fifty-eight patients were randomized (2:1 ratio) to receive either PRP or a contrast agent, with follow-up at 1 week, 4 weeks, 8 weeks, 6 months, and 1 year. Compared to controls, the PRP group showed statistically significant improvements in pain (NRS Best Pain), function (Functional Rating Index), and satisfaction (NASS score) at 8 weeks. Notably, 56% of PRP-treated patients reported satisfaction vs. only 18% of controls.
Improvements in function and pain for PRP patients persisted through 6 and 12 months. At 1 year, PRP participants showed a 17.5-point improvement in function (FRI), 24.5-point gain in pain relief (SF-36 Pain), and 16.8-point improvement in physical functioning. No adverse events like infection or neurological damage were reported, underscoring the safety of PRP. While limited by sample size and lack of control group follow-up beyond 8 weeks, this is one of the first RCTs to demonstrate durable, clinically significant benefits from a single PRP injection in properly selected patients.
Doctor-to-Patient Talking Points on Why to Choose PRP (Based on the Study):
