BACKGROUND

Despite widespread use of steroids to treat sacroiliac joint (SIJ) pain, their duration of pain reduction is short. Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) can potentially enhance tissue healing and may have a longer-lasting effect on pain.

OBJECTIVES

To assess the efficacy and safety of PRP compared with methylprednisolone in ultrasound-guided SIJ injection for low back pain.

STUDY DESIGN

Prospective randomized open blinded end point (PROBE) study.

METHODS

Forty patients with chronic low back pain diagnosed with SIJ pathology were randomly allocated into 2 groups. Group S received 1.5 mL of methylprednisolone (40 mg/mL) and 1.5 mL of 2% lidocaine with 0.5 mL of saline, while Group P received 3 mL of leukocyte-free PRP with 0.5 mL of calcium chloride into ultrasound-guided SIJ injection. Visual analog scale (VAS) scores, Modified Oswestry Disability Questionnaire (MODQ) scores, Short Form (SF-12) Health Survey scores, and complications (if any) were evaluated at 2 weeks, 4 weeks, 6 weeks, and 3 months.

RESULTS

Intensity of pain was significantly lower in Group P at 6 weeks (median [interquartile range (IQR)] = 1 [1 to 1] vs. 3.5 [2 to 5]; P = 0.0004) and 3 months (Median [IQR] = 1 [1 to 3] vs. 5 [3 to 5]; P = 0.0002) as compared to Group S. The efficacy of steroid injection was reduced to only 25% at 3 months in Group S, while it was 90% in Group P. A strong association was observed in patients receiving PRP and showing a reduction of VAS ≥ 50% from baseline when other factors were controlled. The MODQ and SF-12 scores were improved initially for up to 4 weeks but deteriorated further at 3 months in Group S, while both the scores improved gradually for up to 3 months in Group P.

CONCLUSION

The intra-articular PRP injection is an effective treatment modality in low back pain involving SIJ.