COMPARISON BETWEEN CORTICOSTEROID INJECTION AND PLATELET-RICH PLASMA (PRP) IN THE TREATMENT OF FROZEN SHOULDER

Abstract

Objectives: Frozen shoulder (adhesive capsulitis) is a common musculoskeletal disease that appears with a number of symptoms such as pain and constrained active and passive motions of the shoulder. Frozen shoulder mainly affects middle-aged adults. Local corticosteroids injection, oral corticosteroid, Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP), NSAIDs, and physiotherapy may alleviate the symptoms. The aim of this study is to compare the efficacies of corticosteroid injection and PRP in treating frozen shoulder. Methods: A quasi-experimental research was performed on patients with frozen shoulder; to this end, 32 male and 109 female patients were enlisted in the study. The patients were divided randomly into two groups: those receiving (a) PRP and (b) corticosteroid injection. Results: No significant relation was noticed between the two groups after 12 weeks according to a range of motions in flexion ([Formula: see text] = 0.300), abduction ([Formula: see text] = 0.133), external rotation ([Formula: see text] = 0.100), and internal rotation ([Formula: see text] = 0.206). In addition, no significant difference between pain and function scores was detected ([Formula: see text] = 0.103, 0.100). Conclusion: Based on our investigation, both corticosteroid injection and PRP are effective in treating adhesive capsulitis, and there is no notable difference in the effectiveness of these two treatment modalities in patients with frozen shoulder.