Neural Plasticity

Research Article

Ultrasound-Guided Transforaminal Injections of Platelet-Rich Plasma Compared with Steroid in Lumbar Disc Herniation: A Prospective, Randomized, Controlled Study

Table 4

Longitudinal outcomes of pain degree and spinal function for the steroid group over time.


Outcome	Time	Steroid group ()	value^#

VAS (median (1^st-3^rd))	Baseline	6.0 (5.0-7.0)	Ref
	1 week	6.0 (5.0-6.0)	1.000
	1 month	3.0 (3.0-5.0)	<0.001
	3 months	3.0 (2.0-4.0)	<0.001
	6 months	2.0 (2.0-3.0)	<0.001
	1 year	2.0 (1.0-3.0)	<0.001
	value over time^↑	<0.001

PPTs (kPa, median (1^st-3^rd))	Baseline	598.74 (535.24-607.81)	Ref
	1 week	598.74 (526.17-694.00)	0.683
	1 month	739.36 (607.81-807.39)	<0.001
	3 months	739.36 (698.53-943.47)	<0.001
	6 months	725.75 (694.00-780.18)	<0.001
	1 year	716.68 (694.00-762.04)	<0.001
	value over time^↑	<0.001

ODI (%, median (1^st-3^rd))	Baseline	27.0 (21.0-43.0)	Ref
	1 week	23.0 (20.0-40.0)	0.645
	1 month	18.0 (12.0-29.0)	<0.001
	3 months	20.0 (12.0-29.0)	<0.001
	6 months	20.0 (16.3-29.0)	<0.001
	1 year	20.0 (17.3-40.0)	<0.001
	value over time^↑	0.001

1st-3rd: 1st-3rd quartiles; PPTs: pressure pain thresholds; VAS: visual analogue scale; ODI: Oswestry disability index. ^# value compares difference from baseline using post hoc test or Wilcoxon signed-rank test. ^↑ value indicates significance of overall change over time using the Friedman test.