Comparative study for the treatment of plantar fasciitis by corticosteroids versus platelet rich plasma

Purpose: The purpose of this study to compare the efficiency of corticosteroid and platelet rich plasma (PRP) for the treatment of chronic plantar fasciitis. Materials and Methods: The present study was conducted in Department of Orthopaedics at Dr. D. Y. Patil Medical College and Hospital, Pimpri, Pune from June 2013 to September 2015. In this series, forty patients having chronic plantar fasciitis were treated with PRP and corticosteroid injection. The results were evaluated prospectively to compare the efficacy of both the procedures. One group of twenty patients received an injection of corticosteroid and the second group of twenty patients received an injection of PRP. Patients were selected if they fit into the inclusion criteria of the study after random selection. Results: Both groups initially performed well. The patients were followed up at 3, 6, and 12 months interval and were analyzed with the scoring systems (American Orthopedic Foot and Ankle Society [AOFAS], visual analog scale and Roles and Maudsley system). The average pretreatment AOFAS score at 3 months after treatment in the steroid group was 45 and improved to 82 and in the PRP group was 44 and improved to 90. However, the steroid group scores degraded with a sharp drop in the AOFAS rating to 74 at 6 months and 62 at 12 months after treatment. In stark contrast, the PRP group scores remained high with AOFAS scores of 87 at 6 month and 85 at 12 months after treatment. Conclusion: This study confirms the long-term superiority of PRP over corticosteroid injection for chronic planter fasciitis.