| Abstract ID |
| 20260095 |
| Category |
| Shoulder: Rotator Cuff |
| Preferable Presentation |
| Oral Presentation |
| Title |
| PLATELET-RICH PLASMA PROVIDES MODEST BUT DURABLE FUNCTIONAL BENEFIT OVER CORTICOSTEROID FOR ROTATOR CUFF TENDINOPATHY: A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW AND META-ANALYSIS OF RANDOMIZED CONTROLLED TRIALS |
| Author |
|
| Presenter |
| Thun Itthipanichpong |
| Abstract |
| Purpose To compare platelet-rich plasma (PRP) and corticosteroid (CS) injections in rotator cuff tendinopathy and partial-thickness tears. Methods A systematic review was conducted. Eligible studies were randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of adults (≥18 years) with rotator cuff tendinopathy or partial tears comparing PRP with CS injections. Primary outcomes were pain, patient-reported outcome scores, and adverse events. Random-effects meta-analyses were performed using mean difference (MD) or risk ratio (RR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI). Results Ten RCTs (n=591) were included. At 3-6-weeks and 3-month follow-up, pain and patient-reported outcomes did not differ significantly between groups. At 6 months, PRP demonstrated clearer benefits. PRP improved American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons score (ASES) (MD +10.8, 95% CI: 4.71–16.80, p = 0.0005) and Constant-Murley score (CMS) (MD +10.7, 95% CI: 1.21–20.27, p = 0.027). Pain reduction at 6 months favored PRP (Pain visual analog scale [VAS] MD −0.8, 95% CI: −1.45 to −0.18, p = 0.012). PRP was associated with fewer adverse events (RR 0.66, 95% CI: 0.44–0.99, p = 0.047). Conclusions PRP injections offer statistically significant, although clinically modest, improvements in pain and shoulder function compared with CS injections and are associated with fewer adverse events at 6 months. Taken together, these findings suggest that PRP may serve as a more durable treatment option for patients with rotator cuff tendinopathy. Level of evidence: level I |