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Most patients satisfied after PRP therapy for internal disc disruption
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ORLANDO, Fla. — Platelet-rich plasma injection appeared to be a promising therapy for patients who exhibited intradiscal back pain, according to study findings presented here.
“Intradiscal PRP [platelet-rich plasma] is readily available and something we can use right now. It is a safe and effective treatment for IDD [internal disc disruption],” Gregory Lutz, MD, said at the International Spine Intervention Society Annual Meeting.
In the literature, IDD is described as a syndrome of low back pain that arises from an intervertebral disc after a trauma.
Lutz, who is the Physiatrist-in-Chief Emeritus for Hospital for Special Surgery in New York, and colleagues conducted a double-blind study which included 42 patients with IDD. The patients were placed either in a control group of 26 patients who received a contrast agent or in an active group of 16 patients who received intradiscal PRP therapy. Patients were allowed to crossover to another group at 8 weeks. Their mean age was 41 years; most of them were men.
Patients reported their satisfaction with treatment with the North American Spine Society survey.
During his presentation Lutz said results at the 8-week follow-up showed 58.3% of patients who received PRP therapy were satisfied with the treatment. By comparison, 13.3% of patients in the control group were satisfied with their treatment.
Additional studies of PRP therapy for individuals with IDD are underway, Lutz said. – by Robert Linnehan
Reference:
Lutz G. Intradiscal PRP study and MRI predictors of outcome. Presented at: International Spine Intervention Society Annual Meeting; July 30-Aug. 3, 2014; Orlando, Fla.
Disclosure: Lutz is a co-founder, director, and has stock in Orthobond Corp. He is a consultant and has options in Biorestorative Therapies. He has an unrestricted research grant from Harvest Corp.