Comparison of the Effect of Intralesional Injection of Corticosteroid and Platelet-rich Plasma in Patients with de Quervain’s Tenosynovitis

Background: De Querveins’ tenosynovitis affects the abductor pollicis longus (APL) and extensor pollicis brevis (EPB) tendons in the first dorsal compartment of the wrist. Corticosteroid injection is the mainstay of treatment for those patients who do not respond to conservative management. Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) is a currently used strategy in the clinical practice to provide a regenerative stimulus for tendon healing. Objective: To evaluate the effects of Platelet-rich plasma in the treatment of DQVD in comparison with corticosteroid (CS) injection. Materials and Methods: The present randomized clinical trial had been conducted in the Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU), Shahbag, Dhaka. A total of 100 patients with pain and swelling over the radial aspect of the wrist with positive Finkelstein test were randomly allocated into three groups: group A (received platelet-rich plasma injection), group B (received corticosteroid injection) and group C (received conservative management). The severity of pain and functional status of the wrist joint were recorded according to VAS and Mayo’s wrist score both pre-procedurally on day 0 and post-procedurally at the end of 1st, 3rd and 6th month. Results: The mean age of the participants in group A, B and C were 45.6 (±10.4), 46.9 (±11.3) and 42.4 (±6.3) years respectively. In all groups, majority of the study participants were female and housewives. No significant statistical difference was observed among the groups regarding VAS scores and Mayo’s Wrist Scores at baseline. At the end of 6 months, the reduction of pain in group A was significantly lower than group B (p<0.001). Again, at the end of 6 months, the improvement of Mayo’s Wrist Scores in group A group was significantly higher than group B (p<0.001). In group A, 77.8% reduction of pain score was achieved while in group B, 68.4%reduction of pain score was achieved after 6 month of treatment (p<0.001). Conclusions: Platelet-rich plasma provides better functional outcome than corticosteroid in the treatment of de Quervain tenosynovitis. Bangladesh Medical Res Counc Bull 2023; 49(1): 32-38