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Autologous platelet-rich plasma versus corticosteroid in the management of elbow epicondylitis: A randomized study
Posted in: General | Posted on: 14-May-2017
Abstract
Introduction: Elbow epicondylar tendinitis is a common problem for patients whose activities require strong gripping or repetitive wrist movements in the day-to-day activities of life. Histologic specimens from chronic cases confirm that tendinitis is not an acute inflammatory condition but rather a failure of the normal tendon repair mechanism associated with angiofibroblastic degeneration. Tendon regeneration may be improved by injecting autologous growth factors obtained from the patient\'s own blood. Autologous growth factors can be injected with autologous whole blood or platelet-rich plasma (PRP).
Materials and Methods: A randomized study with 83 patients was done. The study population comprised two groups. Group A (n = 50) treated with local steroid injection and Group B (n = 33) treated with autologous PRP. Patients were allocated randomly using computer-generated random number table. The base-line evaluation was done using visual analog score (VAS) and modified Mayo performance index for elbow (MAYO). Re-evaluation was after 1, 2, and 6 months of the procedure. Statistical analysis was done using independent t-test.
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Results: Six months after treatment with PRP, patient\'s with elbow epicondylitis had a significant improvement in their VAS (P < 0.05) and MAYO (P < 0.05) in contrast to steroid, whereas no statistical difference was found between the two groups at 1 and 2 months after intervention.
Conclusion: Treatment of patients with epicondylitis with PRP reduces pain and significantly increases function, exceeding the effect of corticosteroid injection.
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Prolotherapy for Osteoarthritis and Tendinopathy: a Descriptive Review
Posted in: General | Posted on: 14-May-2017
Abstract
Purpose of Review: Osteoarthritis and overuse tendinopathy are common chronic conditions of high societal and patient burden. The precise etiology of pain and disability in both conditions is multifactorial and not well understood. Patients are often refractory to conservative therapy. The development of new therapeutic options in both conditions is a public health priority. Prolotherapy is an injection-based outpatient regenerative therapy for chronic musculoskeletal conditions, including osteoarthritis and tendinopathy. The authors reviewed the basic science and clinical literature associated with prolotherapy for these conditions.
Recent Findings: Systematic review, including meta-analysis, and randomized controlled trials suggest that prolotherapy may be associated with symptom improvement in mild to moderate symptomatic knee osteoarthritis and overuse tendinopathy.
Summary: Although the mechanism of action is not well understood and is likely multifactorial, a growing body of literature suggests that prolotherapy for knee osteoarthritis may be appropriate for the treatment of symptoms associated with knee osteoarthritis in carefully selected patients who are refractory to conservative therapy and deserves further basic and clinical science investigation for the treatment of osteoarthritis and tendinopathy.
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Platelet-rich plasma versus dry needling of myofascial meridian trigger points in the treatment of plantar fasciitis
Posted in: General | Posted on: 08-May-2017
Abstract
Background: Plantar fasciitis (PF) is the most common cause of heel pain, which results from repetitive trauma with degenerative changes in the plantar tissue. Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) and dry needling showed promising results as regards pain resolution and healing effect, and hence our aim was to compare their efficacy in the treatment of chronic PF.
Patients and methods : Thirty patients diagnosed with unilateral PF were subjected to full clinical assessment for foot function using the foot function index (FFI) and assessment of trigger points along the meridians. Ultrasonographic examination of plantar fascia thickness, echogenicity, and power Doppler was carried out. Patients were divided randomly into two groups of 15 each: group A received a single injection of PRP at the plantar fascia, and group B was treated with dry needling protocol in myofascial meridians trigger points along the superficial back line. Follow-up after 6 and 12 weeks included clinical re-evaluation, FFI determination, and ultrasonography. Our results showed a significant improvement in the clinical outcome of the FFI in group B (P<0.03) and a highly significant improvement in the clinical outcome within the PRP group by the 12th week (P<0.009). A significant decrease in thickness, heterogeneity, and Doppler signals (P<0.04, P<0.003, and P<0.03, respectively) was observed within the PRP group at the 12th week.
Conclusion: PRP injection is a promising line of treatment for chronic PF with documented ultrasonographic healing effect. Dry needling is a simple and safe technique for treating pain associated with PF, yet it is more invasive and less effective compared with PRP injection.
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Short-term clinical results of intra-articular PRP injections for early osteoarthritis of the knee
Posted in: General | Posted on: 08-May-2017
Abstract
Purpose: To assess the short-term results of repeated intra-articular platelet rich plasma (PRP) injections into the knee in patients with early osteoarthritis (OA) and to determine a better treatment protocol.
Methods: This is a retrospective study in 191 knees (127 patients) with minimum of 12 months follow-up. We compared the clinical results of three types of injection method, once a month, twice monthly, and three injections at monthly interval. The outcomes were assessed using Visual Rating Scale (VRS), functional score, knee score, range of motion (ROM), WOMAC Stiffness/Pain/Function score, IKDC score, before the first injection and at 12 months post treatment.
Results: There were significant improvements in all scores after treatment as compared to the pre-treatment values (p < 0.05), except Knee score after 1st and 2nd injection and ROM in three groups. The parameters of Visual Rating Scale (VRS), functional score, and WOMAC Stiffness/Pain/Function score showed significant differences among the three groups in favour of the three injections group (p < 0.05). At 12 months, the effects began to decline in one injection and two injections groups, and the data in one injection group showed significant difference compared to two injection group (p < 0.001). Three injections group had higher scores and more improvement at 12 months after treatment when compared to the other two groups.
Conclusion: PRP injection appears to be effective in early symptomatic OA knees. The results after treatment are encouraging with significant reduction in pain and improvement in knee function at 12 months after treatment when compared to the pre-treatment status. Three injections per month yielded significantly better results in short-term follow-up.
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Increased risk for knee replacement surgery after arthroscopic surgery for degenerative meniscal tears: a multi-center longitudinal observational study using data from the osteoarthritis initiative.
Posted in: General | Posted on: 01-May-2017
Abstract
Objective: The primary objective was to assess whether patients with knee osteoarthritis and whom undergo arthroscopic meniscectomy have an increased risk for future knee replacement surgery.
Results: 335 participants underwent arthroscopic meniscectomy during follow up, of which 63 (18.8%) underwent knee replacement surgery in the same knee. Of the 335 propensity score matched participants 38 (11.1%) underwent knee replacement surgery during follow up. Results from the Cox-proportional hazards model demonstrated that the hazard ratio of knee replacement surgery was 3.03 (95% CI (1.67-5.26)) for participants who underwent arthroscopic meniscectomy relative to the propensity score matched participants who did not undergo arthroscopic meniscectomy.
Conclusions: In patients with knee osteoarthritis arthroscopic knee surgery with meniscectomy is associated with a three fold increase in the risk for future knee replacement surgery.
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Platelet rich plasma: Effective treatment for repairing of spinal cord injury in rat
Posted in: General | Posted on: 01-May-2017
Abstract
Objective: The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effect of PRP on the repair of spinal cord injury in rat model.
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Material and methods: Rats were randomly divided into three groups with six rats in each group. Then, spinal cord injury was performed under general anesthesia using \"weight dropping\" method. Control group included rats receiving normal saline, group two received PRP 1 week after injury; group three received PRP 24 h after injury. The motor function was assessed weekly using the Basso, Beattie, and Bresnahan (BBB) locomotor rating scale. Anterograde tracing was performed for evaluation of axon regeneration.
Result: Motor recovery was significantly better in the rats treated with PRP 24 h after injury than the control group. In the rats treated with PRP 1 week after injury and rats treated with PRP 24 h after injury, the average numbers of BDA-labeled axons were statistically different from the control group.
Conclusion: Our experimental study demonstrated positive effects of platelet rich plasma on nerve regeneration after spinal cord injury.
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Nonoperative Options for Management of Articular Cartilage Disease
Posted in: General | Posted on: 01-May-2017
Abstract
Introduction: Articular cartilage damage is a major cause of pain and functional disability which can occur as a result of injury, disease process such as osteoarthritis, or both. While surgical approaches may provide definitive treatment, they are not typically indicated for mild to moderate damage, may be contraindicated in patients with risk factor, and carry a risk of both operative and anesthetic complications. Nonoperative care may not be definitive in advanced cases, however it can provided definitive treatment in more mild to moderate disease. When excluding biologic options, nonoperative treatments do not reverse the disease process or damage, however there are a variety of options which have been shown to provide significant improvement in terms of pain and function, and many treatments delay and can potentially stall progression of articular cartilage damage. In this chapter, we provide an evidence based approach to the various nonoperative options for the treatment of articular cartilage disease, including exercise, weight loss, physical therapy, braces, oral medications, topical medications, supplements, corticosteroid injections, viscosupplementation, and prolotherapy.
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The influence of platelet rich plasma on synovial fluid volumes, protein concentrations, and severity of pain in patients with knee osteoarthritis
Posted in: General | Posted on: 24-Apr-2017
Abstract
Knee pain is commonly seen in orthopedic and rehabilitation outpatient clinical settings. Patients with knee osteoarthritis (OA) are often complicated with joint soreness, swelling, weakness, and pain. These complaints are often caused by the excessive amount of synovial fluid (SF) accumulated in the bursae around the knee joint. This study was aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of platelet rich plasma (PRP) in treating patients with minor to moderate knee osteoarthritis (OA) combined with supra-patellar bursitis using a proteomic approach and clinical evaluation tool. In this study, 24 elderly patients with minor to moderate knee OA combined with supra-patellar bursitis were recruited. Musculoskeletal ultrasound was used for accurate needle placement for the aspiration of SF followed by subsequent PRP injections. Three monthly PRP injections were performed to the affected knees for a total of 3 months. Approximately after the 2nd PRP injection, significant decreases in SF total protein concentrations, volumes, and Lequesne index values were observed. SF proteins associated with chelation and anti-aging physiological functions such as matrilin, transthyretin, and complement 5 increased at least 2-fold in concentrations. Proteins associated with inflammation, such as apolipoprotein A-I, haptoglobin, immunoglobulin kappa chain, transferrin, and matrix metalloproteinase decreased at least 2-fold in concentrations. Therefore, at least two monthly PRP injections may be beneficial for treating patients with minor to moderate knee OA combined with supra-patellar bursitis.
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Safety and Efficacy of Intra-articular Injection of Platelet-Rich Plasma in Patients With Ankle Osteoarthritis
Posted in: General | Posted on: 16-Apr-2017
Abstract
Background: An intra-articular injection of platelet-rich plasma (PRP) may be an effective treatment for osteoarthritis (OA). However, its efficacy in ankle OA has not been investigated yet. The purpose of this study was to assess the safety and efficacy of an intra-articular injection of PRP in patients with ankle OA during a 24-week period.
Methods: Twenty ankles of 20 patients with varus-type ankle OA who received intra-articular injections of PRP were evaluated. PRP was extracted from whole blood by using the double-spin technique. Three injections of 2-mL PRP were administered to the ankle at an interval of 2 weeks under ultrasonographic guidance. Adverse events and efficacy were assessed at 4, 12, and 24 weeks after the last injection. Clinical outcomes were assessed by using the visual analog scale (VAS) for pain, the Japanese Society for Surgery of the Foot (JSSF) ankle/hindfoot scale, and the Self-Administered Foot Evaluation Questionnaire (SAFE-Q)
Results: No serious adverse effects were observed during the follow-up period. The VAS and JSSF scale scores significantly decreased from baseline to 4, 12, and 24 weeks after treatment (P < .001). The mean score in the pain-related subscale of the SAFE-Q significantly improved from baseline to 12 weeks after treatment (P = .04). Overall, the amount of pain reduction was maximal at 12 weeks after the last injection, and the effect was reduced at 24 weeks. The patients with late-stage OA had worse scores in all outcomes than those with early-stage OA.
Conclusion: Intra-articular injections of PRP resulted in no serious adverse effects and significantly reduced pain in the patients with ankle OA. PRP treatment can be safe and effective and may be an option in the treatment of ankle OA.
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Platelet rich plasma in treatment of plantar fascitis
Posted in: General | Posted on: 09-Apr-2017
Abstract
Background: Platelet rich plasma (PRP) has been a breakthrough in the field of medicine especially in the field of orthopaedics for enhancing bone and soft tissue healing. Plantar Fasciitis is a very common problem in the field of orthopaedics and are very difficult to treat and a challenge to orthopaedicians. The aim of our study was to find out the efficacy of autologous PRP in relieving pain in patients with plantar fasciitis.
Methods: In this study, 25 patients with plantar fasciitis (age above 18 years) were selected. The pain intensity was assessed with visual analogue score initially and during follow up. All subjects were given single autologous intra-lesional PRP injection and the results were assessed using difference in VAS.
Results: The mean pain score at presentation was 8.08. The mean pain scores at subsequent intervals of 1,2,4,6 months after injection were 4.32, 2.60, 1.88 & 2.00 respectively. (P<0.05 which is statistically significant). The maximum pain relief was seen at 4^th month post PRP injection and the pain relief was sustained till the last follow up.
Conclusions: From our study we have found that Intra-lesional autologous PRP is effective in relieving pain in patients with plantar fasciitis. PRP is biological and can be a safe adjuvant in the treatment of Plantar Fasciitis.
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Evaluation of new concept of platelet-rich plasma periarticular injections for pain reduction in patients with temporomandibular joint dysfunctions: a pilot study
Posted in: General | Posted on: 04-Apr-2017
Abstract
Background: A number of conservative methods are used in the treatment of temporomandibular joint (TMJ) dysfunction pain syndrome. Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) is a natural concentrate of autologous blood growth factor. Periarticular application of PRP and creating of oedema around the TMJ can be very simple approach for treating of TMJ pain instead of intraarticular application.
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Leg Symptoms Associated with Sacroiliac Joint Disorder and Related Pain
Posted in: General | Posted on: 04-Apr-2017
Abstract
Objective: The symptoms of sacroiliac joint (SIJ) disorders are usually detected in the buttock and groin, and occasionally referred to the thigh and leg. However, lumbar disorders also cause symptoms in these same body regions. The presence of a characteristic, symptomatic pattern in the legs would be useful for diagnosing SIJ disorders. This study aimed to identify specific leg symptoms in patients with SIJ pain originating from the posterior sacroiliac ligament and determine the rate of occurrence of these symptoms.
Patients and Methods: The source population consisted of 365 consecutive patients from February 2005 to December 2007. One hundred patients were diagnosed with SIJ pain by a periarticular SIJ injection (42 males and 58 females, average age 46 years, age range, 18-75 years). A leg symptom map was made by subtracting the symptoms after a periarticular SIJ injection from the initial symptoms, and evaluating the rate of each individual symptom by area.
Results: Ninety-four patients reported pain at or around the posterior-superior iliac spine (PSIS). Leg symptoms comprised pain and a numbness/tingling sensation; ≥60% of the patients had these symptoms. Pain was mainly detected in the back, buttock, groin, and thigh areas, while numbness/tingling was mainly detected in the lateral to posterior thigh and back of the calf.
Conclusions: Leg symptoms associated with SIJ pain originating from the posterior sacroiliac ligament include both pain and numbness, which do not usually correspond to the dermatome. These leg symptoms in addition to pain around the PSIS may indicate SIJ disorders.
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Role of Ultrasound Guided Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP) Injection in Treatment of Lateral Epicondylitis
Posted in: General | Posted on: 02-Apr-2017
Abstract
Background: Lateral epicondylitis is referred to a degenerative disorder that affects the common extensor tendon (CET) where it attaches to the lateral epicondyle of the humerus. Nowadays, one of minimally invasive interventions is platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injection that had been explored in some controlled clinical studies to show its effectiveness in treating lateral epicondylitis through inducing inflammation rather than suppressing it.
Objectives: The aim of our study was to investigate the effectiveness of ultrasound guided platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injection in treating chronic lateral epicondylitis in addition to identifying the potential sonographic morphological changes in the common extensor tendon (CET) after PRP injection.
Results: Statistical analysis showed high significant improvement in all ultrasound findings of common extensor tendon (CET) including echotexture, thickness, cross section, partial tear and calcification in majority of patients.
Conclusion: We concluded that US-guided platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injection for treatment of lateral epicondylitis was a safe, minimally invasive and effective procedure in improving the sonographic and pathological changes of common extensor tendon (CET).
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Intratendon Delivery of Leukocyte-Poor Platelet-Rich Plasma Improves Healing Compared With Leukocyte-Rich Platelet-Rich Plasma in a Rabbit Achilles Tendinopathy Model
Posted in: General | Posted on: 21-Mar-2017
Abstract
Background: Chronic tendinopathy is a commonly occurring clinical problem that affects both athletes and inactive middle-aged patients. Although some studies have shown that different platelet-rich plasma (PRP) preparations could exert various therapeutic effects in vitro, the role of leukocytes in PRP has not yet been defined under tendinopathy conditions in vivo.
Purpose: This study compared the effects of the intratendon delivery of leukocyte-poor PRP (Lp-PRP) versus leukocyte-rich PRP (Lr-PRP) in a rabbit chronic tendinopathy model in vivo.
Methods: Four weeks after a local injection of collagenase in the Achilles tendon, the following treatments were randomly administered on the lesions: injections of (1) 200 μL of Lp-PRP (n = 8), (2) 200 μL of Lr-PRP (n = 8), or (3) 200 μL of saline (n = 8). Healing outcomes were assessed at 4 weeks after therapy with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), cytokine quantification, real-time polymerase chain reaction analysis of gene expression, histology, and transmission electron microscopy (TEM).
Results: MRI revealed that the Lr-PRP and saline groups displayed higher signal intensities compared with the Lp-PRP group with T2 mapping. Histologically, the Lp-PRP group displayed significantly better general scores compared with the Lr-PRP (P = .001) and saline (P < .001) groups. Additionally, TEM showed that the Lp-PRP group had larger collagen fibril diameters than the Lr-PRP group (P < .001). Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay showed a significantly lower level of catabolic cytokine IL-6 in the Lp-PRP group compared with the Lr-PRP (P = .001) and saline (P = .021) groups. The Lp-PRP group displayed significantly increased expression of collagen I compared with the saline group (P = .004) but not the Lr-PRP group. Both the Lp-PRP and Lr-PRP groups exhibited significantly lower matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-1 and MMP-3 expression levels compared with the saline group. However, only the Lp-PRP group displayed significantly higher expression of TIMP-1 than the saline group (P = .024).
Conclusion: Compared with Lr-PRP, Lp-PRP improves tendon healing and is a preferable option for the clinical treatment of tendinopathy.
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Platelet Rich Plasma in Osteoarthritis: More than a growth factor therapy
Posted in: General | Posted on: 19-Mar-2017
Abstract
Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most commonly encountered degenerative joint disorder in clinical medicine and the pain and stiffness caused by osteoarthritis represents a leading cause of physical disability in individuals of retirement age. Treatment options for OA patients are limited and largely targeted to pain management. Such is the mechanism behind the most commonly prescribed OA therapies including acetaminophen, NSAIDs, opioids, and steroids. However, these palliative pain management tools do not address the underlying pathophysiology of OA disease. This leaves a significant clinical unmet need for disease modifying OA therapies. Growth factor therapies and regenerative medicine strategies are emerging as promising alternatives to palliative care because these treatments bring significant potential to control chronic inflammation, enhance cartilage repair, and restore other joint tissues to a healthy state. Interestingly, a Clinicaltrials.gov search using the terms \"osteoarthritis\" and \"growth factor\" identified 43 relevant studies. Of these, only 26% used growth factor therapies directly, including FGF-18, BMP-2, and transgenic human chondrocytes producing TGF-b1. 23% of the studies were dedicated to inhibitors of NGF. The overwhelming majority of studies (47%) used autologous blood products, especially platelet rich plasma (PRP), which constituted 33% of the total studies. This was interesting because although platelets in PRP do indeed harbor large quantities of different growth factors that can affect the status of the treated tissue, growth factors represent only a single aspect of the bioactivity of platelets. Furthermore, platelets represent only one aspect of the potential bioactivity of PRP. Depending upon the methods used for PRP generation, it may also contain other physiologically important components of the whole blood from which it is derived. Recent studies indicate non-platelet components of whole blood such as red blood cells and leukocytes are essential for normal platelet function, including growth factor release. Therefore, this narrative review discusses PRP from a physiological context that explores beyond platelet growth factors to encompass and illuminate roles of non-platelet cells in the bioactivity of PRP, and how these additional mechanisms lead to the conclusion that PRP can be much more than a growth factor therapy.
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Efficacy of Platelet-Rich Plasma in the Treatment of Knee Osteoarthritis: A Meta-analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials
Posted in: General | Posted on: 19-Mar-2017
Abstract
Purpose: To use meta-analysis techniques to evaluate the efficacy and safety of platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injections for the treatment knee of osteoarthritis (OA).
Methods: We performed a systematic literature search in PubMed, Embase, Scopus, and the Cochrane database through April 2016 to identify Level I randomized controlled trials that evaluated the clinical efficacy of PRP versus control treatments for knee OA. The primary outcomes were Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC) pain and function scores. The primary outcomes were compared with their minimum clinically important differences (MCID)ddefined as the smallest difference perceived as important by the average patient.
Results: We included 10 randomized controlled trials with a total of 1069 patients. Our analysis showed that at 6 months postinjection, PRP and hyaluronic acid (HA) had similar effects with respect to pain relief (WOMAC pain score) and functional improvement (WOMAC function score, WOMAC total score, International Knee Documentation Committee score, Lequesne score). At 12 months postinjection, however, PRP was associated with significantly better pain relief (WOMAC pain score, mean difference - 2.83, 95% confidence interval [CI] - 4.26 to - 1.39,P
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Platelet-Rich Plasma in Regenerative Medicine
Posted in: General | Posted on: 13-Mar-2017
Abstract
The clinical application of platelet-rich plasma (PRP) has been increasing sharply in the last two decades. Its role as a potential regenerative agent and ease of application have allowed it to take huge share in the fast-evolving biological therapy field. The reported effect of PRP on a range of tissue types including bone, cartilage, tendon and muscle has attracted clinical interest in fields such as trauma, orthopaedic, maxillofacial and plastic surgery where effective healing of tissues is critical for successful outcome. The results of in vitro and animal studies that largely report positive effects of PRP on cellular and matrix regeneration have been the main drive for its translation to clinical settings. Despite the lack of appropriately powered trials, PRP administration remains an attractive strategy given its cost-effective, minimally invasive nature and the autologous nature of PRP. In this chapter, the current literature on the use of PRP in regenerative medicine is reviewed highlighting both some of the controversy surrounding this approach and some emerging clinical applications. A new PRP classification system is presented to allow better description of the variable clinical PRP products and their correlated outcome.
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Six-month efficacy of platelet-rich plasma for carpal tunnel syndrome: A prospective randomized, single-blind controlled trial
Posted in: General | Posted on: 13-Mar-2017
Abstract
Recently, a few small reports with short follow-up period have shown clinical benefits of platelet-rich plasma (PRP) for peripheral neuropathy including one pilot study and one small, non-randomized trial in patients with carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS). Therefore, we conducted a randomized, single-blind, controlled trial to assess the 6-month effect of PRP in patients with CTS. Sixty patients with unilateral mild-to-moderate CTS were randomized into two groups of 30, namely the PRP and control groups. In the PRP group, patients were injected with one dose of 3 mL of PRP using ultrasound guidance and the control group received a night splint through the study period. The primary outcome measure was the visual analog scale (VAS) and secondary outcome measures included the Boston Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Questionnaire (BCTQ) score, the cross-sectional area (CSA) of the median nerve (MN), electrophysiological findings of the MN, and finger pinch strength. The evaluation was performed before treatment and at 1, 3, and 6 months post-injection. The PRP group exhibited a significant reduction in the VAS score, BCTQ score, and CSA of MN compared to the those of control group 6 months post-treatment (p < 0.05). Our study demonstrates that PRP is a safe modality that effectively relieves pain and improves disability in the patients with CTS.
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Omega-3 fatty acids (fish oil) as an anti-inflammatory: an alternative to nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs for discogenic pain
Posted in: General | Posted on: 05-Mar-2017
Abstract
Background: The use of NSAID medications is a well-established effective therapy for both acute and chronic nonspecific neck and back pain. Extreme complications, including gastric ulcers, bleeding, myocardial infarction, and even deaths, are associated with their use. An alternative treatment with fewer side effects that also reduces the inflammatory response and thereby reduces pain is believed to be omega-3 EFAs found in fish oil. We report our experience in a neurosurgical practice using fish oil supplements for pain relief.
Methods: From March to June 2004, 250 patients who had been seen by a neurosurgeon and were found to have nonsurgical neck or back pain were asked to take a total of 1200 mg per day of omega-3 EFAs (eicosapentaenoic acid and decosahexaenoic acid) found in fish oil supplements. A questionnaire was sent approximately 1 month after starting the supplement.
Results: Of the 250 patients, 125 returned the questionnaire at an average of 75 days on fish oil. Seventy-eight percent were taking 1200 mg and 22% were taking 2400 mg of EFAs. Fifty-nine percent discontinued to take their prescription NSAID medications for pain. Sixty percent stated that their overall pain was improved, and 60% stated that their joint pain had improved. Eighty percent stated they were satisfied with their improvement, and 88% stated they would continue to take the fish oil. There were no significant side effects reported.
Conclusion: Our results mirror other controlled studies that compared ibuprofen and omega-3 EFAs demonstrating equivalent effect in reducing arthritic pain. omega-3 EFA fish oil supplements appear to be a safer alternative to NSAIDs for treatment of nonsurgical neck or back pain in this selective group.
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The Time Has Come to Try Intra-articular Platelet-Rich Plasma Injections for Your Patients With Symptomatic Knee Osteoarthritis
Posted in: General | Posted on: 05-Mar-2017
Abstract
Platelet-rich plasma injections, in a systematic review and meta-analysis of 10 Level I randomized control trials, were found to provide more pain relief and better functional outcomes than hyaluronic acid in patients with knee osteoarthritis at 12 months after injection. The time has come for those of us who have not yet tried platelet-rich plasma injections in our patients with symptomatic knee osteoarthritis to do so.
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