Comparing Corticosteroid and Platelet-Rich Plasma Injections for Treating Shoulder Tendinopathy

What this Trial Is About

Shoulder tendinopathy is a common condition causing pain and limiting daily activities due to damage or overuse of the rotator cuff tendons. Researchers are comparing two injection treatments for this condition corticosteroid injections, which reduce inflammation and provide quick pain relief but may have short-term effects, and Platelet-Rich Plasma PRP injections, made from the patients own blood, which may promote longer-term healing. This trial involves adult patients diagnosed with simple shoulder tendinopathy confirmed by clinical examination and imaging. The study randomly assigns 60 adult participants to receive either a single corticosteroid injection or a single PRP injection into the affected shoulder tendon. Corticosteroid injections aim to quickly reduce pain and inflammation, while PRP injections focus on promoting tissue healing and longer-term recovery. Both injections are given under sterile conditions by trained physicians. Patients will be monitored for changes in pain and shoulder function at one week and three months after the injection. Participants will undergo evaluations before the injection and at follow-up visits one week and three months later. Pain levels will be measured using a visual analog scale VAS, and shoulder function will be assessed with the Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand DASH score and the Shoulder Pain and Disability Index SPADI. These assessments will help determine which treatment provides better pain relief and functional improvement over time. The study is conducted at the Rheumatology Department of Charles Nicolle Hospital in Tunis, Tunisia, with a total participation duration of about three months post-injection.

Corticosteroid Versus PRP Injections for Shoulder Tendinopathy