PT - JOURNAL ARTICLE AU - Shahdan Y. Kotb AU - Nahed M. Sherif AU - Hala A. Saleh AU - Sahar F. Ahmed AU - Hossam M. Sakr AU - Mohamed O. Taeimah TI - The role of intra-articular injection of autologous platelet-rich plasma versus corticosteroids in the treatment of synovitis in lumbar facet joint disease AID - 10.15537/smj.2022.43.11.20220449 DP - 2022 Nov 01 TA - Saudi Medical Journal PG - 1200--1208 VI - 43 IP - 11 4099 - http://smj.org.sa/content/43/11/1200.short 4100 - http://smj.org.sa/content/43/11/1200.full SO - Saudi Med J2022 Nov 01; 43 AB - Objectives: To compare the efficacy between platelet-rich plasma (PRP) and corticosteroids (CS) in improving magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)-detected synovitis in correlation with clinical complaints among patients with lumbar facet joint (FJ) disease.Methods: This study was carried out at Eldemerdash Hospital, Cairo, Egypt between September 2019 and January 2021. A prospective, randomized, comparative, single blinded study included 30 patients with lumbar FJ disease, divided into 2 equal groups, received PRP and CS injections. Patients were comparatively assessed before and after the intervention according to number of tender lumbar FJs, maximum active lumbar extension range of motion, LBP visual analogue score, LBP functional disability questionnaires and MRI lumbar FJ detected synovitis and their grading.Results: Both groups showed a significant improvement in all mentioned parameters at follow-up after 3 months. However, PRP injections promoted better performance in terms of MRI synovitis grade in all lumbar FJ levels compared to CS injections.Conclusion: Both PRP and CS injections were effective in improving MRI-detected FJ synovitis while concurrently improving all examined parameters at follow-up after 3 months. However, PRP promoted better improvement in MRI-detected synovitis grade, suggesting that it may be a better treatment option for longer duration efficacy.TRN: NCT04860531- 1/3/2021