Role of platelet-rich plasma in painful early osteoarthritis knee and plantar Fasciitis: A prospective study

Introduction: Plantar fasciitis and early osteoarthritis knee are the most common painful orthopedic conditions treated by orthopedic practitioners. This study is to assess the role of platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injection in the treatment of plantar fasciitis and early osteoarthritis knee. Aims and Objectives: To access the role of platelet-rich plasma in plantar fasciitis and early osteoarthritis knee. Materials and Methods: A prospective interventional study was conducted at our center between January 2016 to March 2017. Patients included were complaining of pain in knee for 3 months, Grade 1 to Grade 2 osteoarthritis, presenting with complaints of plantar heel pain, tenderness at the attachment of the plantar fascia. The details of the clinical assessment filled and baseline WOMAC score for osteoarthritis knee and analog pain scale for plantar fasciitis was recorded. We explained the procedure to the patients and informed consent were taken. 4 ml of PRP was injected in either condition. Patients were followed up for 6 months at 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6 months. Visual analog scale (VAS) for the assessment of pain in plantar fasciitis and WOMAC score for early osteoarthritis knee was recorded for all patients at the last visit and compared. Results: In 15 patients with osteoarthritis of knee, the mean score for preinjection baseline was 29.4 ± 5.80, which showed improvement by 27% from baseline during the 1st month with a mean of 21.4S7 ± 5.475 and during 6th month with a mean of 22.47 ± 9.516 but it never reverted to baseline pre injection value. In 30 patients with plantar fasciitis, the results are statistically significant (P ≤ 0.05), and all the patients responded to the treatment. VAS score is statistically significant in comparison with baseline at all duration. Conclusion: In our study, PRP is significantly effective in reducing pain in early osteoarthritis knee and plantar fasciitis