Introduction
The sacroiliac joint (SIJ) can become dysfunctional through trauma and/or pregnancy. The mechanism involves direct or repetitive microtrauma to the buttocks/lower back. Treatment with specialised physiotherapy alleviates the problems in ∼80% of cases. The remainder may respond to prolotherapy (hypertonic glucose injections into the dorsal intra-osseous ligament (DIOL)) after multiple injections. We hypothesised that the response may be more rapid with injection of platelet enriched plasma (PRP) into the DIOL under ultrasound guidance.
Materials and methods: Following Ethics approval a study was undertaken to compare the efficacy of PRP injections Vs Standard prolotherapy. A group of 39 patients (32F, 7 M, Age range: 18–70 yrs) was studied and the results compared to the control group who had received hypertonic glucose injections. All patients were assessed clinically at baseline, 3 and 12 months. Outcome measures included VAS, Roland-Morris questionnaire and Quebec Back Pain inventory, as well as clinical tests of SIJ incompetence.