Efficacy of intradiscal autologous platelet-rich plasma injection in chronic lumbar disc prolapse: A quasi-experimental study

Background: Low back pain is a major cause of disability worldwide, with intervertebral disc degeneration contributing to nearly 40% of cases. Conventional treatments focus on symptom relief without addressing the underlying degeneration. Platelet-rich plasma (PRP), a regenerative therapy rich in growth factors, offers potential therapeutic benefits through growth factor-mediated mechanisms, though clinical evidence is limited. Aim: To evaluate the efficacy of intradiscal autologous PRP injection in reducing pain and improving function in patients with chronic lumbar disc prolapse. Methods: This pilot quasi-experimental study was conducted in tertiary care centre between July 2022 and June 2024. The study involved comparing the outcomes between group A (n = 17) who failed to respond to conservative treatment measures and received intradiscal PRP injection with group B (n = 22) who responded to conservative treatment. Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) and Functional Rating Index (FRI) scores were recorded at baseline, 3 weeks, and 6 weeks for both the groups. Results: Forty patients were enrolled in the study. The PRP group demonstrated significant improvement in VAS and FRI scores compared to baseline. While both groups improved from their respective baselines, direct between-group comparisons are limited by baseline differences in symptom severity. Patients who failed conservative trial showed significant improvement following PRP intervention, with outcomes approaching those observed in physiotherapy responders. Conclusion: Intradiscal PRP injection significantly improved pain and function in patients with lumbar disc disease, with clinical improvements that approached the level observed in physiotherapy responders, despite baseline differences in symptom severity. PRP shows promise as an effective treatment for lumbar disc pathology; however, these preliminary findings are limited by the small sample size and short follow-up, warranting larger trials with long-term evaluation.