Clinical study of ultrasound-guided intra-articular injection of autologous platelet rich plasma for the treatment of lumbar facet joint syndrome

Abstract

Objective To investigate the clinical efficacy of ultrasound-guided intra-articular injection of autologous platelet rich plasma (PRP) for lumbar facet joint. Methods A total of 40 patients with back pain caused by lumbar facet joint syndrome were enrolled in this study according to the inclusion criteria. They were assigned into two groups (n=20) using the method of random number table to receive the treatment of intra-articular injection of autologous PRP (P group) and glucocorticoid combined with local anesthetic treatment (S group). The therapeutic effects at postoperative (immediately, 1 week, 1 month, 3 months, 6 months) were evaluated by using the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) score, remission rate of pain [(VAS score before operation-VAS score after operation)/VAS score before operation] and the number of patients with pain relief rate (≥50%). In addition, the adverse reactions, such as aggravation of pain, symptoms of local or systemic infection, symptoms related to nerve injury, hemorrhage and fever from the immediately end after injection to one week after treatment of the two groups were also compared. Results The S group has lower VAS score, higher pain relief rate and more numbers of patients with pain relief rate≥50% than that of P group at postoperative (immediately, 1 week, 1 month)(P<0.05). However, the P group has lower VAS score, higher pain relief rate and more numbers of patients with pain relief rate≥50% than that of S group at 3 months and 6 months after operation (P<0.05). Both groups didn′t show the adverse reactions immediately and 1 week after operation. Conclusions The clinical efficacy of ultrasound-guided intra-articular injection of autologous PRP for lumbar facet joint is not better than glucocorticoid combined with local anesthetic injection at the time of end of operation, 1 week and 1 month after the treatment, but is better than the effect at the time points of 3 months and 6 months after the treatment. Key words: Lumbar facet joint syndrome; Platelet rich plasma; Glucocorticoid