The Effect of Administering Platelet Rich Plasma in Cases of Intervertebral Disc Degeneration

Abstract

Introduction: Intervertebral disc (IVD) degeneration is a significant contributor to persistent back pain, with the IVD serving a vital mechanical role in weight transfer, energy dissipation, and joint mobility. The nucleus pulposus and annulus fibrosus work together to distribute and transmit loads between vertebral bones. Platelet-rich plasma (PRP), containing various growth factors, has gained attention due to its potential in clinical settings for stimulating cell growth and proliferation. This study explores the potential of autologous PRP therapy for improving degenerating IVD.

Objectives: The objective of this study is to assess the effectiveness of autologous PRP therapy in improving degenerating IVD based on clinical and histological features.

Methods: The author conducted an evidence acquisition process by analyzing and synthesizing information from various references. We used "intervertebral disc degeneration" and "platelet-rich plasma" as keywords to search for relevant literature on PubMed, Google Scholar, ProQuest, and Clinical Key. The data for this study were extracted from a total of 10 articles, comprising 6 experimental studies and 4 clinical trial studies.

Results: The study findings reveal that autologous PRP therapy induces significant improvements in degenerating IVD based on both clinical and histological features.

Conclusions: This study suggests that autologous PRP therapy is an effective approach for enhancing degenerating IVD, as evidenced by improvements in clinical and histological features. This research underscores the potential of PRP as a valuable technique in the clinical setting for addressing IVD degeneration and its associated back pain.