نبذة مختصرة : Background: Partial tears of the supraspinatus tendon are a common cause of shoulder pain and functional impairment. Non-operative treatment is often preferred, particularly in regions where access to surgical care is limited. Corticosteroid injections are widely used for pain control, while platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injections have been proposed as a biological treatment that may enhance tendon healing. However, comparative evidence regarding their clinical effectiveness remains inconsistent. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of traditional corticosteroid injection vs ultrasound-guided platelet-rich plasma injection on pain alleviation and functional improvement in patients with partial supraspinatus tendon rupture. Methods: A prospective cohort study was conducted at a tertiary orthopaedic center in Mongolia. Patients with partial supraspinatus injuries verified by MRI were randomized to receive either a subacromial corticosteroid injection or a single ultrasound-guided leukocyte-poor PRP injection. The Oxford Shoulder Score (OSS) was used to measure shoulder function, and the Visual Analog Scale (VAS) was used to measure pain severity. Outcomes were measured at baseline, 1 month, and 6 months following the intervention. Results: 31 patients divided into 15 patients in the intervention group (PRP) and 16 patientss in the control group (corticosteroid). Both groups showed improvement in OSS and VAS score after agent administration at several observation (p<0.001). 6 months, the PRP group showed significantly greater improvement in pain reduction and functional scores compared with the corticosteroid group (p < 0.05). No fatal complications were reported. Conclusion: PRP injection demonstrated superior mid-term clinical outcomes, suggesting a potential advantage for sustained recovery. PRP may be considered a valuable non-operative treatment option, particularly in Asian populations where long-term functional preservation is essential.
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