Comparing Platelet-Rich Plasma Injections with Extracorporeal Shock Wave Therapy for Chronic Plantar Fasciitis: A Prospective Comparative Study
Abstract BackgroundPlantar fasciitis is a self-limiting disease that is a common cause of adult heel pain. The purpose of this prospective study was to compare the curative effect following platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injections with extracorporeal shock wave therapy (ESWT), in the patients with chronic plantar fasciitis.Method:100 patients with plantar fasciitis were randomly divided into 2 groups (group A and group B), 50 patients in each group. Patients were treated with autologous PRP injection in group A and with dolorclast radial ESWT in group B. Outcomes were assessed prior to the therapy and at 3, 6,12, and 24 months following the therapy, which included American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS) scores, visual analog scale (VAS) pain scores, subjective satisfaction score and MRI studies were obtained in all cases to confirm the diagnosis of plantar fasciitis.ResultNo severe complications were recorded in the A and B groups. And in the treatment of plantar fasciitis have achieved good results. There was no significant difference in AOFAS scores between the two groups at 3 months after treatment. The AOFAS scores at 3, 6, 12, and 24 months after treatment in group A were 91, 85, 84, and 80. The AOFAS scores in group B were 89, 85, 83, and 79, respectively. Both groups of patients had significant improvement compared with before treatment(P<0.01).ConclusionThe observations in this study indicate that PRP and ESWT are safe and feasible options for the treatment of chronic plantar fasciitis. But the long-term effect is not particularly satisfying.