title: Comparison of platelet-rich plasma and steroid injection in the treatment of plantar fasciitis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to compare the effects of platelet-rich plasma (PRP) and steroid injections in patients diagnosed with plantar fasciitis.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 50 patients with chronic plantar fasciitis were included in the study and divided into 2 groups. In the PRP group (n=25), PRP taken from the patients' blood was activated using calcium chloride and injected in a single dose. In the steroid group (n=25), a single dose methylprednisolone with local anesthetic injection was given. Clinical evaluation was made using the American Foot and Ankle Score (AFAS) and the visual analog scale (VAS).
  
  
  RESULTS
  No complications were seen in any patients. Mean AFAS was 85.5 ± 4.2 at 6 weeks and 90.6 ± 2.6 at 6 months in the PRP group and 75.3 ± 4.8 and 80.3 ± 4.7, respectively, in the steroid group (p<0.001). The difference in the mean VAS between the PRP group (2.4 ± 0.8 and 1 ± 0.8) and the steroid group (4 ± 1.1 and 2.6 ± 0.9) at the 6th week and 6th month was statistically significant (p<0.001). Changes in AFAS and VAS scores were significantly higher in the PRP group (p<0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The application of PRP appears to be more effective than steroid injection in terms of pain and functional results in the treatment of chronic plantar fasciitis.
authors: Department of Orthopedics and Traumatology, Faculty of Medicine, Ondokuz Mayıs University, Samsun, Turkey. ferhatsay@gmail.com.
authors: Ferhat
authors: F
authors: Say
authors: Department of Orthopedics and Traumatology, Samsun Training and Research Hospital, Samsun, Turkey.
authors: Deniz
authors: D
authors: Gürler
authors: Department of Orthopedics and Traumatology, Samsun Training and Research Hospital, Samsun, Turkey.
authors: Erkan
authors: E
authors: İnkaya
authors: Department of Orthopedics and Traumatology, Faculty of Medicine, Medipol University, İstanbul, Turkey.
authors: Murat
authors: M
authors: Bülbül
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002908:Chronic Disease; D036981:Fasciitis, Plantar / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D015552:Injections, Intralesional; D008297:Male; D008775:Methylprednisolone / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008875:Middle Aged; D010147:Pain Measurement; D053657:Platelet-Rich Plasma; D011446:Prospective Studies; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D008775:Methylprednisolone