“To compare the relative effectiveness of intralesional steroid versus platelet-rich plasma injection among 80 patients in plantar fasciitis: A prospective study”

Objective: The objective of the study to compare the relative effectiveness of intralesional steroid versus platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injection among 80 patients in plantar fasciitis. Materials and Methods: A total number of 80 patients with plantar fasciitis were divided into two groups. Group A with 30 patients received intralesional PRP and Group B received intralesional methylprednisolone acetate injection. Pre- and post-intervention visual analogue scale (VAS), the Foot and Ankle Ability Measure (FAAM) score, and Plantar Fascia (PF) thickness for the assessment of pain relief in two groups were recorded at 6 months. Results: The mean VAS scores for heel pain measured after 6 months of treatment were 1.460 ± 0.6911 in PRP group and 3.024 ± 0.9572 in steroid group. The decrease in mean VAS score in both the groups was statistically significant when compared with pretreatment values (8.38 ± 0.6820 in PRP group and 8.44 ± 0.6021 in steroid group). The mean FAAM score measured after 6 months of treatment increased in both the groups (83.43 ± 5.661 in PRP group and 69.12 ± 5.795 in steroid group) when compared with pretreatment value (29.97 ± 5.997 in PRP group and 31.68 ± 6.297 in steroid group), and it was statistically significant. There was 35.90% reduction in mean PF thickness in PRP group and 28.67% reduction in steroid group as compared to baseline values after 6 months of injection. Conclusion: Intralesional injections of both the PRP and steroid are effective and safe modalities of treatment for plantar fasciitis. A steroid is better for short-term treatment of plantar fasciitis, but in long-term follow-up, PRP therapy is better than steroid. Both the treatment methods have caused a significant reduction in PF thickness.