A Randomized Controlled Trail To Evaluate The Efficacy Of Autologous Blood Injection Versus Local Corticosteroid Injection In Treatment Of Plantar Fasciitis

Abstract

Background and objectives ABSTRACT Recently an injection of autologous blood has been reported beneficial for both intermediate/long term outcome for treatment of plantar fasciitis and there was significant decrease in pain. The present study was aimed to evaluate the efficacy and role of autologous blood injection in plantar fasciitis by comparing with the local corticosteroid injection. Methodology This one year randomized controlled trial was conducted at KLES Dr. Prabhakar Kore Hospital and Medical Research Centre, Belgaum during the period of January 2011 to December 2011 on a total 120 confirmed patients of plantar fasciitis. Based on the computer generated randomization the selected patients were randomized into two groups that is, group A ( n=60; received autologus blood injection+ 1 ml 0.5% bupivacaine ) and group B ( n=60; received methyl prednisolone acetate 80mg+1 ml 0.5% bupivacaine ) . Results In this study slight male preponderance was seen in both the groups ( 53.33% and 55% ) . The mean in group A was 41.80±10.96 years and in group B the mean age was 40.68±10.47 years. Most of the patients in group A and B presented with right foot involvement ( 51.67% and 65.00% ) . The mean duration in group A was 10.88 compared to 8.62 weeks in group B. The mean VAS score at the beginning were comparable in both the groups ( 7.55±1.40 vs 7.70±1.14; iii p=0.810) . At fourth week the mean VAS scores in group A significantly reduced to 3.18±2.38 and at 12 weeks and six months to 0.3±1.37 suggesting significantly less pain in group A compared to group B. Similar trend of reduction among patients in groups A was observed with Nirschal staging scores. No patient in group A reported complications and recurrence was not observed in patients with group A. Conclusion and interpretation Overall, autologus blood injection significantly reduced the pain without complications with no recurrence and provided complete relief of pain for the period of six months.