Role of Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP) in the Management of Stage III and IV Degenerative Disc Disease.

Degenerative disc disease is a common disorder that can significantly impact patients' quality of life, leading to chronic pain and disability. Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) therapy is emerging as a potential treatment for degenerative disc disease. The purpose of this review is to summarize the role of PRP in the management of degenerative disc disease types III and IV. This is a scoping literature review. The online database PUBMED was used, and papers were searched using the keywords: ("PRP" OR "platelet-rich plasma") AND ("degenerative disk disease" OR "disk degeneration" OR "intradiscal injection" OR "discogenic pain" OR "intervertebral disc degeneration" OR "degenerative disk disease" OR "intervertebral disc disease"). Clinical studies evaluating the role of PRP in the management of stage III and IV degenerative disc disease were included in the study. Systematic reviews, animal studies, in vitro studies, case reports, study designs, case reports, and studies in languages other than English were excluded. The present study includes 14 studies. PRP has been found to promote tissue regeneration and modulate inflammatory response in degenerated discs. PRP can be administered mostly intradiscally but also epidurally. The benefits of PRP use include pain reduction, improvement of functionality, and low risk of adverse events. The effect of intradiscal PRP injections is similar to steroid injections. A higher concentration of platelets is associated with enhanced clinical outcomes. PRP therapy represents a promising avenue for tissue healing and regeneration across degenerative disc disease. While the evidence supporting its efficacy is encouraging, further research is needed to elucidate its mechanisms of action, optimize treatment protocols, and expand its clinical applications.