Platelet-Rich
Plasma Injections in the Treatment of Chronic Rotator Cuff Tendinopathy: A
Randomized Controlled Trial With 1-Year Follow-up.
Plasma Injections in the Treatment of Chronic Rotator Cuff Tendinopathy: A
Randomized Controlled Trial With 1-Year Follow-up.
Kesikburun S, Kenan Tan A, Yılmaz B, Yaşar E, Yazıcıoğlu K. Am J Sports
Med July 26, 2013; published online before print July 26, 2013, doi:10.1177/0363546513496542
Med July 26, 2013; published online before print July 26, 2013, doi:10.1177/0363546513496542
Take
Home Message: Despite its popularity as a promising new treatment option,
the use of PRP injection for rotator cuff tendinopathy did not result in
improved pain or functional outcome when compared to placebo injection.
Home Message: Despite its popularity as a promising new treatment option,
the use of PRP injection for rotator cuff tendinopathy did not result in
improved pain or functional outcome when compared to placebo injection.
The treatment of rotator cuff tendinopathy without complete a rotator
cuff tear – a common cause of shoulder pain – includes rest, avoidance of
aggravating activities, physical therapy, anti-inflammatory medications, and
corticosteroid injections. It is hypothesized that platelet-rich plasma
(PRP) could help reverse the degenerative changes and regenerate normal tendon
tissue, which is something current treatments (e.g., rehabilitation) can’t do. However,
we have little evidence to support the clinical use of PRP for chronic rotator
cuff tendinopathy. In this double-blinded randomized clinical trial, the
authors compared a subacromial injection of PRP to an injection of saline
placebo for the management of symptomatic rotator cuff tendinopathy. A patient with shoulder pain was assessed and included in the study
if he/she had chronic pain in the shoulder exacerbated by overhead-throwing
activities, tenderness to palpation of the rotator cuff insertion site at the
proximal humerus, decreased shoulder range of motion, and tendinosis or partial
tearing on magnetic resonance imaging, no other shoulder disorders that could
be the source of shoulder pain, no history of corticosteroid injections within
6 weeks prior to enrollment, and no NSAID use within the week prior to the
study. The authors randomly assigned 40 patients (18-70 years old) to
one of 2 groups: 20 patients received a PRP injection and 20 patients received
a placebo injection of normal saline. To keep the authors and patients
blinded 5 mL solutions of either PRP or saline were placed in covered syringes.
The same physician performed all of the ultrasound-guided injections in
the subacromial space near the center of the rotator cuff tendinopathy and at 4
sites around it. Each patient began a formal 3-week rehabilitation
program and then transitioned to a home program for an additional 3 weeks. The authors assessed shoulder symptoms, disability, pain, and
passive range of motion at baseline, 3 weeks, 6 weeks, 12 weeks, 24 weeks, and
1 year after the injection. Both treatment groups improved over time and
there was no difference between patients receiving PRP or placebo. The authors
reported no adverse events with the exception of some temporary local
inflammatory reactions to the injections.
cuff tear – a common cause of shoulder pain – includes rest, avoidance of
aggravating activities, physical therapy, anti-inflammatory medications, and
corticosteroid injections. It is hypothesized that platelet-rich plasma
(PRP) could help reverse the degenerative changes and regenerate normal tendon
tissue, which is something current treatments (e.g., rehabilitation) can’t do. However,
we have little evidence to support the clinical use of PRP for chronic rotator
cuff tendinopathy. In this double-blinded randomized clinical trial, the
authors compared a subacromial injection of PRP to an injection of saline
placebo for the management of symptomatic rotator cuff tendinopathy. A patient with shoulder pain was assessed and included in the study
if he/she had chronic pain in the shoulder exacerbated by overhead-throwing
activities, tenderness to palpation of the rotator cuff insertion site at the
proximal humerus, decreased shoulder range of motion, and tendinosis or partial
tearing on magnetic resonance imaging, no other shoulder disorders that could
be the source of shoulder pain, no history of corticosteroid injections within
6 weeks prior to enrollment, and no NSAID use within the week prior to the
study. The authors randomly assigned 40 patients (18-70 years old) to
one of 2 groups: 20 patients received a PRP injection and 20 patients received
a placebo injection of normal saline. To keep the authors and patients
blinded 5 mL solutions of either PRP or saline were placed in covered syringes.
The same physician performed all of the ultrasound-guided injections in
the subacromial space near the center of the rotator cuff tendinopathy and at 4
sites around it. Each patient began a formal 3-week rehabilitation
program and then transitioned to a home program for an additional 3 weeks. The authors assessed shoulder symptoms, disability, pain, and
passive range of motion at baseline, 3 weeks, 6 weeks, 12 weeks, 24 weeks, and
1 year after the injection. Both treatment groups improved over time and
there was no difference between patients receiving PRP or placebo. The authors
reported no adverse events with the exception of some temporary local
inflammatory reactions to the injections.
PRP injections have been gaining popularity as a possible treatment for
tendinopathy in various anatomic locations. Although it had some early positive outcomes in a few treatment studies for chronic elbow
tendinopathy, patellar tendinosis, rotator cuff surgery, and acute Achilles tendon
repair the results have been less clear since. Recent studies indicate that the
therapeutic benefit of PRP may be related to the type of PRP preparation, the
duration of symptoms, the anatomic location or loading on a tendon, and when
the patient is evaluated after the injection (see related posts below). Therefore,
it is hard to generalize this study’s results because they are based on a
single injection of a specific PRP preparation among patients with chronic
rotator cuff tendinopathy. Furthermore, in this study, it remains unclear if
the improvement was from the injections or the exercises the patients were
prescribed. When we advise our patients we may want to try therapeutic
exercise and with PRP we should consider the evidence specific to the patient’s
treatment (e.g., type of PRP preparation, anatomical location, duration of
symptoms). In summary, a single injection of PRP for chronic rotator cuff
tendinopathy is no better than using a placebo injection.
tendinopathy in various anatomic locations. Although it had some early positive outcomes in a few treatment studies for chronic elbow
tendinopathy, patellar tendinosis, rotator cuff surgery, and acute Achilles tendon
repair the results have been less clear since. Recent studies indicate that the
therapeutic benefit of PRP may be related to the type of PRP preparation, the
duration of symptoms, the anatomic location or loading on a tendon, and when
the patient is evaluated after the injection (see related posts below). Therefore,
it is hard to generalize this study’s results because they are based on a
single injection of a specific PRP preparation among patients with chronic
rotator cuff tendinopathy. Furthermore, in this study, it remains unclear if
the improvement was from the injections or the exercises the patients were
prescribed. When we advise our patients we may want to try therapeutic
exercise and with PRP we should consider the evidence specific to the patient’s
treatment (e.g., type of PRP preparation, anatomical location, duration of
symptoms). In summary, a single injection of PRP for chronic rotator cuff
tendinopathy is no better than using a placebo injection.
Questions
for Discussion: Have you used PRP injections in practice? What were the
results? Would you consider using PRP for chronic rotator cuff
tendinopathy? If used in your practice, did it take more than one
treatment to obtain satisfying results?
for Discussion: Have you used PRP injections in practice? What were the
results? Would you consider using PRP for chronic rotator cuff
tendinopathy? If used in your practice, did it take more than one
treatment to obtain satisfying results?
Written by: Michelle Noreski and Marc Harwood
Reviewed by: Jeffrey Driban
Related Posts:
Platelet Rich Plasma Injections Do Not Improve Achilles Tendon Healing
Kesikburun S, Tan AK, Yilmaz B, Yasar E, & Yazicioglu K (2013). Platelet-Rich Plasma Injections in the Treatment of Chronic Rotator Cuff Tendinopathy: A Randomized Controlled Trial With 1-Year Follow-up. The American journal of sports medicine PMID: 23893418