Aim: The aim of this review is to help decide outcome of patients in whom platelet-rich plasma (PRP) has been used and whether it can be used as an effective treatment in plantar fasciitis.
Introduction: Plantar fasciitis is a very common complaint for which patients see a pain physician. Plantar fasciitis is self-limiting and up to 90% patients recover by conservative treatment. Previously all treatments focused on decreasing inflammation, e.g., use of non-steroidal anti-inflammataory drugs (NSAIDs) and corticosteroid injections. Newer modalities of treatment target decreasing degeneration caused by the disease process. These treatments initiate an inflammatory reaction which restarts the healing process.2 These include PRP injections, extra corporeal shock wave therapy (ESWT), etc.
Review results: We screened 18 full text studies based on our searches, Out of these 1 was a meta-analysis of randomised control trials (RCTs), 3 were RCTs and remaining were level 3 cohort studies. These included studies done from 2011 till date. Our review inferred that PRP therapy decreases pain and helps in improving quality of life in patients with recalcitrant plantar fasciitis.7
Conclusion: Use of PRP in Chronic Plantar fasciitis is effective. It improves long term outcomes, decreasing chances of recurrences.
