COMPARATIVE STUDY OF PLATELET-RICH PLASMA AND CORTICOSTEROID INJECTION IN THE TREATMENT OF PLANTAR FASCIITIS

Background: Plantar fasciitis is defined as localized inflammation due to chronic repeated microinjury to the substance of plantar aponeuroses and the patients present to the clinic for pain in heel. In this study, autologous platelet-rich plasma (PRP), a concentrated bioactive blood component rich in  growth factors, was compared to traditional steroid injection usually methylprednisolone  in the treatment of plantar fasciitis resistant to traditional nonoperative management. Methods: Eighty patients with plantar fasciitis were included in the study and randomly categorised into group A (steroid inj) and Group B (prp inj). 3 cc PRP or 40 mg DepoMedrol injected into plantar aponeurosis at maximum point of tenderness, in both groups separately. Results of both groups comparedand Score of both the groups tellied by using vas score. Study Design and Time: Prospective cohort study of 6 months duration. Inclusion criteria: All cases of plantar fasciitis except cases of metabolic disorder Exclusion criteria: other plantar pathologies and deformities. calcaneum fractures Old treated with injections. Results: The instillation of PRP found to be more effective than Steroids injection in terms of pain and functional results in the treatment of plantar fasciitis. Clinical evaluation was performed before treatment and at the 6th week, 12th week and 24th weeks from instillation of PRP/steroid in follow up visits. Visual analog scale were used in the clinical evaluation. Keywords: Platelet-Rich, Plasma, Corticosteroid, Plantar & Fasciitis.