The Effectiveness of Platelet-Rich Plasma in the Treatment of Sciatic Nerve Injury: A Single-Blind Randomized Comparative Trial

TL;DR

This study found that platelet-rich plasma injections combined with rehabilitation may help improve recovery in patients with sciatic nerve injuries.

Contribution

The study provides clinical evidence for the effectiveness of PRP in early sciatic nerve injury repair.

Findings

PRP improved motor and sensory function recovery in patients with sciatic nerve injury.

PRP showed significant improvements in nerve conduction velocity and cross-sectional area over time.

The benefits of PRP were maintained for up to six months post-treatment.

Abstract

To evaluate the efficacy and safety of platelet-rich plasma (PRP) in treating sciatic nerve injury (SNI).

A prospective, randomized, single-blind, comparative trial was conducted. Thirty patients with SNI were randomized into two groups of 15, namely, the PRP and control groups. In the PRP group, patients were injected with 5 doses of 3 mL PRP combined with 12 weeks of rehabilitation training using ultrasound guidance, while the control group received 12 weeks of rehabilitation training. Motor function recovery rating table (MFRRT) and sensory function recovery rating table (SFRRT) were used as primary outcomes. The secondary outcomes included the cross-sectional area (CSA) of the sciatic nerve under ultrasound guidance and electrophysiological assessment. Evaluations were performed at baseline and 1–, 3-, and 6-month postinjection.

After treatment, there were significant differences in the motor function recovery rating, motor conduction velocity, sensory conduction velocity, and CSA of the sciatic nerve at 1, 3, and 6 months in the PRP group (p < 0.05). There were significant differences in the motor conduction velocity of the sciatic nerve at 6 months in the control group (p < 0.05).

PRP may be partially effective in the early repair of incomplete sciatic nerve injuries, and its efficacy could be maintained.

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