The Long-Term Analgesic Effectiveness of Platelet-Rich Plasma Injection for Carpal Tunnel Syndrome: A Cross-Sectional Cohort Study

Abstract

Abstract Objective Interest in perineural platelet-rich-plasma (PRP) injections for the treatment of carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) has increased in recent years. However, evidence supporting the long-term effectiveness of PRP is lacking. Therefore, the aim of our cross-sectional cohort study was to investigate the long-term results of PRP injections for CTS. Methods Eighty-one patients diagnosed with CTS of any grade who received a single PRP injection at least 2 years prior were enrolled. Through structured telephone interviews, all patients were asked of their post-injection outcomes compared to their pre-injection condition. Symptom relief ≥50%, compared to the pre-injection condition, was considered an effective outcome. Binary logistic regression was applied to analyze each baseline variable as a regressor for determining the prognostic outcome factors. Results In total, 70% of patients reported positive outcomes ≥2 years post-injection. Shorter duration of symptoms before treatment (odds ratio: 0.991; 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.983–0.999; P = .023) and lower electrodiagnostic severity of CTS were the main prognostic factors for an effective outcome (mild grade vs severe grade, odds ratio: 17.652; 95% CI 1.43–221.1; P = .025). Although there was a trend toward positive outcomes at longer follow-up durations (2–3 years vs 3–4 years vs 4–5 years), the difference was not statistically significant. Conclusions A single perineural PRP injection has a long-term analgesic effect on CTS, especially in mild-to-moderate cases.