Citation Information :
Karikalan SK, Murugan K, J LJ. Comparing the Efficacy of Intra-articular Platelet-rich Plasma and Corticosteroid Injections in the Management of Adhesive Capsulitis of Shoulder. J Orth Joint Surg 2025; 7 (1):104-108.
Introduction: Adhesive capsulitis is a frequent, agonizing, incapacitating ailment with various management options. Although steroid injections are a common therapy, they frequently have a transient effect. There is limited study on platelet-rich plasma (PRP), but it has become a viable option for managing adhesive capsulitis. This study focuses on analyzing the effectiveness of PRP in adhesive capsulitis.
Methods: In our analytical cross-sectional study, we selected 70 patients fulfilling the inclusion criteria and randomly assigned them via computer into two groups. Group A [PRP (IA PRP)] was given 4 mL of PRP, while group B [corticosteroids (IA CS)] received an injection of 2 mL saline mixed with 2 mL of methylprednisolone acetate (80 mg), totaling 4 mL. We evaluated outcomes such as pain levels, visual analog scale (VAS) scores, QuickDASH scores (for arm, shoulder, and hand disabilities), shoulder range of motion (ROM), and shoulder pain and disability index (SPADI) scores. Participants were assessed at intervals of 2, 4, 8, 12, and 24 weeks.
Results: PRP (group A) injection yielded superior long-term outcomes compared with corticosteroid (group B) injection in this study, revealing notable enhancement in shoulder ROM, daily activities, and pain. At the 24-week follow-up, the PRP group had an average QuickDASH score of 38.83 ± 6.33, while the steroid group had an average score of 48.76 ± 5.08 (p ≤ 0.001). The average VAS score for the PRP group was 2.00 (ranging from 1.0 to 3.0), compared to 3.00 (ranging from 2.0 to 4.0) for group B (p ≤ 0.001). Additionally, the average SPADI score was 50.32 ± 7.49 in the PRP group and 59.24 ± 5.80 in the steroid group (p ≤ 0.001), demonstrating remarkably improved disability and pain scores for group A at the 24-week mark.
Conclusion: Our research shows that PRP injections work better for treating adhesive capsulitis over the long term than CS injections. For improved results, PRP might be employed as a therapeutic modality, especially if the patient has contraindications for CS injections. More investigation is required to determine the effectiveness of these treatment options at various stages of adhesive capsulitis, as well as the possible advantages of USG-guided injections.
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