Platelet-Rich Rich Plasma More Effective Than Cortisone for Chronic Severe Plantar Fasciitis

SAN FRANCISCO—A small study evaluating the effects of platelet-rich plasma (PRP) in the treatment of the most severe cases of Plantar fasciitis—a common heel injury causing severe heel pain and affecting approximately two million people each year—found that PRP is more effective than cortisone for this condition.

While more than 90 percent of patients with plantar fasciitis will improve within 10 months of starting simple treatment methods (rest, ice, compression, exercise, activity modification, selective immobilization and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medication), a small number of patients will have chronic plantar fasciitis that is difficult to treat and extremely painful.

In the study, 36 patients with severe chronic plantar fasciitis, who had failed non-operative traditional treatment, were placed into 1of 2 groups: those treated with a single cortisone injection, and those treated with a PRP injection at the injury site. Each patient used a walker for 2 weeks, and performed prescribed exercises, before returning to normal activities. Investigators used American Orthopedic Foot and Ankle Scores (1 to 100) to assess results. The patients treated with cortisone shots (average age 59) had post-treatment average scores of 81 at 3 months following treatment. These decreased to 74 at 6 months, and 58 at 12 months. In comparison, patients treated with a PRP injection (average age, 51) showed improved post-treatment average scores of 95 at 3 months post treatment, and 94 at both 6 and 12 months.

—Brought to you by the AAOS