Advances in Platelet-Rich Plasma Treatment for Spinal Diseases: A Systematic Review

Int. J. Mol. Sci., 2023 · DOI: 10.3390/ijms24087677 · Published: April 21, 2023

Spinal Disorders Regenerative Medicine & Stem Cells

Simple Explanation

Spinal diseases often cause pain and neurological issues that lower a patient's quality of life. Platelet-rich plasma (PRP), which contains many growth factors and cytokines, can help regenerate tissues. PRP is becoming more popular for treating musculoskeletal problems, including spinal diseases. This review looks at research on PRP's use in treating spinal diseases. It covers basic lab studies and new clinical uses of PRP for repairing disc damage, helping bones fuse after spinal fusion, and improving nerve recovery after spinal cord injuries. Although early research suggests PRP is promising for regeneration and is safe and effective for some spinal diseases, more high-quality studies are needed. These studies will help confirm if PRP therapy is truly effective.

Study Duration

Not specified

Participants

Not specified

Evidence Level

Level 1-5 Systematic Review of basic and clinical studies

Key Findings

1
Basic research indicates PRP has promising regenerative potential for intervertebral disc degeneration based on in vitro and in vivo studies.
2
Clinical studies suggest PRP therapy is safe and efficacious for treating several spinal diseases, though results vary depending on the specific application and PRP preparation.
3
The effectiveness of PRP in spinal fusion surgery is controversial; some studies show increased bone fusion rates, while others show no significant improvement or even decreased fusion rates.

Research Summary

This review examines the current literature on basic research and emerging clinical applications of PRP therapy for treating spinal diseases, covering in vitro and in vivo studies evaluating PRP's potential in repairing intervertebral disc degeneration. Clinical applications of PRP in treating degenerative spinal disease are addressed, including its analgesic effect on low back pain and radicular pain, as well as accelerating bone union during spinal fusion surgery. While basic research demonstrates the promising regenerative potential of PRP, further high-quality randomized controlled trials are required to establish clinical evidence of PRP therapy.

Practical Implications

Intradiscal Injection Therapy

PRP is safe and shows promise for improving pain, disability, and QOL for degenerative disc disease.

Spinal Fusion Surgery

The effectiveness of PRP is limited and controversial, with no clear benefit in clinical outcomes.

Facet/Sacroiliac Joint Pain

Injection therapy of PRP may be safe and useful for improving pain, disability, and QOL.

Study Limitations

1
Individual differences in platelet concentration and function affect standardization.
2
Lack of uniform PRP characteristics due to varied purification methods.
3
More large-scale double-blind randomized trials are required.

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