The benefits of platelet-rich plasma injection for relief of tendinopathy pain are evident outside of a controlled research setting, according to results from a Scottsdale, AZ, private practice presented in November at the AAPM&R meeting.

Physiatrists at Southwest Spine & Sports performed PRP injections on 92 patients with tendon or ligament pain during a nine-month period. Sixty of those patients completed a follow up telephone survey.

More than two-thirds of patients (68%) reported an improvement in pain, which lasted two to three months. Average improvement in pain, as quantified using a visual analog scale, was 54%; when only those who experienced pain relief were considered, average improvement was 74%. Overall satisfaction was 3.4 out of 5, with 5 being very satisfied.

About half of the cases involved the lower extremities. Pain improved by 74% in 10 patients who received greater trochanter injections, and by 100% in the three patients who received injections in the plantar fascia. A miscellaneous group that experienced 72% improvement included injections of the peroneus brevis tendon, posterior tibialis tendon, pes anserine bursa, and medial gastrocnemius tendon.

By Jordana Bieze Foster