Highlights
- Today’s Research Article: PRP outlasts steroids—stronger, safer, longer relief for back pain.
- Questions from the Field: From blood draw to injection: PRP takes just 20–25 minutes.
- Let’s Get Down to Business: Marketing isn’t sales—it’s how patients discover you.
- Come Join Us: See PRP in action—live demo & Q&A with Dr. Ariana DeMers.
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Today’s Research Article
Effect of autologous platelet‐rich plasma (PRP) on low back pain in patients with prolapsed intervertebral disc: A randomised controlled trial
Girish K. Singh, Praveen Talawar, Ajit Kumar, Ravi S. Sharma, Gaurav Purohit, Baibhav Bhandari
Summary:
This double-blind, randomized controlled trial evaluated the effect of autologous platelet-rich plasma (PRP) versus epidural steroid with local anesthetic in 42 patients with low back pain due to prolapsed intervertebral disc (IVDP). Patients were randomly assigned to receive either a fluoroscopy-guided peridiscal PRP injection or a steroid–anesthetic injection, with follow-up over six months. Pain was measured with the Numeric Rating Scale (NRS), and overall treatment impact was assessed using the Global Perceived Effect (GPE) scale.
Results showed that while the steroid group had faster early pain relief (better scores at 15 days and one month), their improvement diminished over time. By contrast, the PRP group showed consistent, progressive improvement. At six months, the PRP group had a mean NRS of 1.43 compared to 5.43 in the control group, and significantly higher GPE scores. The authors concluded that PRP provided safe, sustained, and superior long-term relief, making it a promising alternative to conventional steroid injections for IVDP-related back pain.
Doctor-to-Patient Talking Points on Why to Choose PRP (Based on the Study):
