Platelet-Rich Plasma Treatment With Physical Therapy in Chronic Partial Supraspinatus Tears

BACKGROUND: Despite the insufficient evidence, due to potential contribution to the improvement, platelet-rich plasma (PRP) is emerging as a promising method. OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to assess the effectiveness of PRP injection in partial supraspinatus tears by comparing with physical therapy (PT). PATIENTS AND METHODS: Seventy patients with chronic partial supraspinatus tears in magnetic resonance imaging were randomized into two groups; PRP (n = 35) and PT (n = 35). Before the treatment, at the end of the treatment and at the 12th month after the end of the treatment, range of motion (ROM), visual analog scale (VAS) for pain, Disabilities of Arm, Shoulder and Hand questionnaire (DASH), Neer’s, Hawkins’ and drop arm tests and Beck Depression Inventory were investigated. RESULTS: Statistical analysis was made for 62 subjects (PRP group, n = 30; PT group, n = 32). There were no differences between the groups according to demographic data. At the 12th month after the end of the treatment, significant improvement in ROM was detected in both groups, pain was reduced significantly in both groups and improvement of the DASH score was observed in both groups. At all the evaluation steps, increases in ROM degrees were significantly higher in the PT group than the PRP group. For VAS in activity and in rest, after the treatment, improvement was higher in the PT group than the PRP group. However, improvement of the DASH score of the PRP group was significantly better than the PT group. CONCLUSIONS: When we compared with PT, PRP seemed to be a well-tolerated application which showed promising results in patients with chronic partial supraspinatus tears.