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562 - Use of Subacromial Space Platelet-Rich Plasma Injections and Treatment Outcomes in the United States: A Scoping Review

Thursday, February 22, 2024
5:00 PM – 6:30 PM EDT
Objectives: A scoping review was conducted to review available literature on the use of Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP) in the management of shoulder injuries. The use of subacromial PRP injections in surgical and non-surgical management of patients with shoulder tendinopathies has the potential to improve functionality, reduce pain, and improve overall patient well-being.

Design: A systematic search of PUBMED, Web of Science, EMBASE, and Scopus was conducted. Keywords ‘subacromial PRP injection’ and ‘outcomes’ were utilized as search terms. Inclusion criteria included within the United States, peer-reviewed, and discussion of outcomes. Articles were screened at a title/abstract and full-text level. Two independent reviewers (DY and SP) conducted the initial screening. When a consensus could not be reached, a third reviewer (GA) made the final decision. All three reviewers collaborated to extract relevant data from the included articles.

Results: PRP injections as a non-surgical treatment showed improvement in Visual Analog pain scores and functional outcomes. Differences in these scores decreased around six months, showing no significant difference in pain, range of motion, or other functional scores, with no significant decrease in the rate of failure or need for surgery post-injection. In patients receiving PRP injections as a part of surgical management, there was no significant difference in range of motion or functional outcomes but a significant decrease in pain medication taken in the first 30 days postoperatively.

Conclusions: PRP injections show promise in the use of both non-surgical and surgical management of shoulder tendinopathies, particularly in the management of pain following both initial injury and surgery. While PRP does not show significance after six months, benefits immediately following may provide a method for decreasing the need for opioids and decreasing the risk of retear. Further research is needed to understand the effectiveness of PRP and its potential complications as a treatment method in the United States.