Best Way to Treat Rotator Cuff Injuries?

In a significant medical study, researchers compared the efficacy of corticosteroid and platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injections in treating rotator cuff injuries, revealing distinct short-term and long-term benefits of each treatment.

The study, involving a systematic review of nine randomized control trials (RCTs) with 469 patients, was recently published in the Journal of Shoulder and Elbow Surgery.

The findings indicate that while corticosteroids offer superior immediate relief, PRP injections are more beneficial for long-term recovery.

This conclusion was drawn after assessing the patients' scores on the Constant, Simple Shoulder Test (SST), and American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons scales.

The study's methodology adhered to the rigorous standards set in the Cochrane Manual of Systematic Review of Interventions.

In the short term, corticosteroids outperformed PRP in improving Constant, SST, and American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons scores. Specifically, the corticosteroid group exhibited a mean difference (MD) of -5.08, indicating a notable improvement over PRP in immediate symptom relief. However, at the long-term follow-up, PRP demonstrated significantly better recovery in SST (MD = 1.21) and American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons (MD = 6.96) scores, highlighting its efficacy in sustaining recovery and promoting tendon healing without side effects.

Interestingly, no clinically significant differences were observed in the reduction of pain, based on the Visual Analog Scale scores, at any follow-up timepoint between the two treatment groups.

This suggests that while each treatment has its specific advantages, their impact on pain relief may not be substantially different.

The study's conclusions underscore the need for a tailored approach to treating rotator cuff diseases, considering the unique benefits of corticosteroids for immediate symptom relief and PRP injections for sustained recovery.

The researchers advocate for further randomized controlled trials with longer follow-up periods and larger sample sizes to refine these findings and establish an optimal treatment protocol for rotator cuff injuries.

Read the full study here!