PLANTAR FASCIITIS;

INTRA-LESIONAL STEROID INJECTIONS VERSUS INTRA-LESIONAL AUTOLOGOUS BLOOD INJECTIONS

Abstract

Objectives: To compare Intra-lesional corticosteroid injection with autologous blood injection therapy in plantar fasciitis in terms of mean pain score. Study Design: Randomized Controlled Trial (RCT). Place and Duration: At the Department of Orthopaedics, Benazir Bhutto Hospital, Rawalpindi, for a duration of 01 year i.e. from 7^th May 2016 to 6^th May 2017. Patients and Methods: Patients with unilateral plantar heel pain fulfilling the inclusion criteria were included in the study. Patients were randomly allocated into two groups; A and B. Group A were injected 2mL corticosteroid injection in heel. Those in Group B were injected with 2mL of autologous blood mixed with 1 mL of 2% lidocaine. Outcome was assessed using Visual Analog Score (VAS) at 3 months. Results: A total of 180 patients with unilateral plantar heel pain were included. Mean age of patients was 49.98±11.26 years. 91 (50.6%) were male and 89 (49.4%) females. At 12-weeks post-treatment, mean pain score was significantly high in group A than group B (3.24±1.05 vs. 2.54±1.01; p=0.0005). Conclusion: Autologous blood was more effective than corticosteroid injection in patients with plantar fasciitis as was seen at 3 months follow-up.