Platelet-rich plasma in the treatment of 'frozen shoulder'

Introduction: This paper presents the results of treating the condition known as frozen shoulder with the platelet-rich plasma method (PRP). Frozen shoulder (periarthritis humeroscapularis, adhesive capsulitis) is the third most common condition (after back pain and knee arthrosis) occurring in middle-aged people (40 to 60 people). Aim of the Study: To establish to which extent is platelet-rich plasma efficient in the treatment of painful shoulder syndrome. Patients and Methods: In the period between January 2013 and December 2015, in the HI Hospital for Surgical and Internal Medicine 'S.tetik', 54 female patients with clinical manifestations of a frozen shoulder were treated. The treatment consisted of three PRP administrations at 7-day intervals. The Quick Dash questionnaire was used for the results at the beginning of the treatment, as well as 30 days and 3 months after its completion. A checkup was conducted after a year. Results: In total, we treated 54 female patients whose average age was 52 years (37-72). Pain in the left shoulder was experienced by 37 patients, while 17 of them experienced pain in the right shoulder. The Quick Dash score prior to the PRP administration was 42 (35-52), while after the PRP treatment the score was 18 (13-26) after 30 days and 13 (11-23) after 3 months. Conclusion: By means of our protocol, implying the treatment of frozen shoulder with the platelet rich plasma method, it is possible to significantly reduce subjective difficulties of patients. Also, together with all other therapeutic procedures (analgesia, physical therapy, etc.), it may eventually lead to a complete recovery. Further work on the examination of pathophysiological effects of PRP and monitoring a large number of patients in multiple centers could result in scientifically proven standards for the application of PRP as a method of choice in the treatment of frozen shoulder.