Efficacy of platelet-rich plasma injection in comparison to physical therapy for treatment of chronic partial supraspinatus tear

Abstract

Abstract Background Supraspinatus tendon is a part of the rotator cuff of the shoulder, partial or full-thickness tear can affect the tendon secondary to trauma or repeated microtrauma. The aim of the present study is to evaluate the efficacy of platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injection in comparison to physical therapy for treatment of chronic partial supraspinatus tears. Results At the beginning of the study, there were no significant differences between both groups in all parameters: (a) PRP injection had significantly improved the visual analog scale (VAS), disabilities of arm, shoulder and hand scale (DASH) and shoulder range of motion (ROM) but not size of tear at 6 and 12 weeks post-injection in comparison to baseline recordings; (b) physical therapy had significantly improved VAS, DASH but not shoulder ROM nor size of tear at 6 and 12 weeks post-injection in comparison to baseline recordings; and (c) PRP injection was superior to physical therapy in the improvement of VAS, shoulder ROM, and DASH score. Conclusion The US-guided PRP injection is superior to physical therapy in improving pain, ROM, and function in treatment of partial thickness tear of supraspinatus tendon.