Corticosteroid Versus PRP Injections for Shoulder Tendinopathy

Not Applicable

Recruiting

• Conditions: Tendinopathy of Rotator Cuff

• Registration Number: NCT07094178
• Lead Sponsor: Hopital Charles Nicolle

Brief Summary

Shoulder tendinopathy is a common condition that causes shoulder pain and limits daily activities. It often results from damage or overuse of the rotator cuff tendons. Treatment typically includes rest, physical therapy, anti-inflammatory medications, and sometimes injections.

This clinical trial aims to compare the effectiveness of two types of injections for treating simple shoulder tendinopathy:

Corticosteroid injections, which reduce inflammation and provide quick pain relief, but may have only short-term effects.

Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP) injections, a newer treatment made from the patient's own blood, which may promote long-term healing.

The study is being conducted at the Rheumatology Department of Charles Nicolle Hospital in Tunis, Tunisia. A total of 60 adult patients with shoulder tendinopathy will be randomly assigned to receive either a corticosteroid injection or a PRP injection.

Participants will be evaluated before the injection (baseline), after one week, and after three months. The researchers will assess pain levels using a visual analog scale (VAS), and shoulder function using validated questionnaires (DASH and SPADI scores).

The goal is to determine which treatment provides better pain relief and functional improvement over time.

Detailed Description

Not available

Study Timeline

• Study First Submitted: 2025-06-23
• Study Start: 2025-06-30
• Status Verified: 2025-07
• Study First Submitted QC: 2025-07-28
• Last Update Submitted: 2025-07-28
• Study First Posted: 2025-07-30
• Last Update Posted: 2025-07-30
• Primary Completion: 2025-10-01
• Study Completion: 2025-11-01

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: RECRUITING
• Sex: All
• Target Recruitment: 60

Inclusion Criteria

• Adults aged 18 years and older
• Diagnosed with simple tendinopathy of the shoulder confirmed by clinical examination and imaging
• Experiencing shoulder pain for at least 4 weeks
• Able to provide informed consent

Exclusion Criteria

• Previous shoulder surgery on the affected side
• Presence of rotator cuff tear or severe shoulder pathology
• Systemic inflammatory diseases (e.g., rheumatoid arthritis)
• Recent corticosteroid injection in the affected shoulder (within last 3 months)
• Contraindications to corticosteroids or PRP treatment
• Pregnancy or breastfeeding

Study & Design

• Study Type: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Design: PARALLEL

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Change in shoulder pain and disability measured by the Shoulder Pain and Disability Index (SPADI)	baseline, 1 week, 3 months	The SPADI score ranges from 0 to 100. Higher scores indicate greater pain and disability.
Change in shoulder function measured by the Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand (DASH) score	baseline, 1 week and 3 months	The DASH score ranges from 0 to 100. Higher scores indicate greater disability (worse function).
Change in pain intensity measured by Visual Analog Scale (VAS)	baseline, 1 week, 3 months	The Visual Analog Scale (VAS) ranges from 0 to 10, where 0 indicates "no pain" and 10 indicates "worst imaginable pain". Higher scores represent worse pain outcomes.

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

Charles Nicolle Hospital; 🇹🇳 Tunis, Tunisia