{
  "abstract": "BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Low back pain (LBP) is a leading cause of disability and health care costs in the U.S., with the sacroiliac joint (SIJ) implicated in up to 30% of cases. Treatments such as steroid/anesthetic injection (SAI) and opioids offer short-term relief but are associated with systemic side effects and potential for dependency. Platelet-rich plasma (PRP), a biologically active autologous treatment, has demonstrated regenerative and anti-inflammatory properties that may offer a safer and more durable alternative, with some promise seen in the spine on prior trials. This study aimed to compare clinical effectiveness of CT-guided PRP versus SAI for SIJ-mediated low back pain using robust inclusion criteria. Materials and Methods This single-blinded, randomized controlled trial enrolled 44 adult patients with chronic SIJ pain confirmed by ≥50% pain relief following anesthetic block. Participants were then randomized to receive either PRP or SAI by CT-guidance, with outcomes assessed over 3 months. Primary outcome was change in numeric rating scale (NRS) pain scores. Secondary outcomes included modified Oswestry disability questionnaire, SF-12 quality-of-life metrics, functional mobility, and opioid use. Results Forty participants (20 per arm) remained for analysis at 3 months with both groups showing significant pain reduction (PRP vs. SAI; −3.0 ± 3.2 vs. −1.8 ± 2.4 mean change ± SD, p=.24). SAI produced greater early relief, while PRP demonstrated more sustained improvement, including a non-significant trend toward higher responder rates (≥50% NRS reduction; 60% vs. 35%, p=.11) and greater gains in disability and physical quality of life at 3 months outcome assessment. Conclusions PRP and SAI both improved SIJ-related LBP, with PRP demonstrating a slower onset but potentially more durable benefit. PRP appears to be a viable, safe alternative to corticosteroids in managing chronic SIJ pain. Larger trials with longer follow-up are warranted to validate these findings and inform clinical guidelines.",
  "abstract_shown": true,
  "affiliations": [
    "From the Department of Radiology and Imaging Sciences (M.E.P., G.S., T.A.H., L.M.S.), University of Utah Health Sciences Center, Salt Lake City, Utah",
    "Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (Z.L.M.), University of Utah Health Sciences Center, Salt Lake City, Utah",
    "Department of Radiology (R.C.C.), Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, New York."
  ],
  "article_type": "research article",
  "arxiv": null,
  "author_total": 6,
  "authors": [
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Miriam E. Peckham",
      "orcid": "0000-0003-1432-1078"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        1
      ],
      "name": "Zachary L. McCormick"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Ghazaleh Safazadeh",
      "orcid": "0000-0002-3968-1603"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Troy A. Hutchins",
      "orcid": "0000-0002-1329-4402"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        2
      ],
      "name": "Ruth C. Carlos"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Lubdha M. Shah",
      "orcid": "0000-0003-1303-3533"
    }
  ],
  "bibtex": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/3mvvarsa6y4ww.bib",
  "cited_by": 0,
  "doi": "10.3174/ajnr.a9307",
  "fulltext_url": "https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC13738323/",
  "id": "3mvvarsa6y4ww",
  "issns": [
    "0195-6108",
    "1936-959X"
  ],
  "landing_url": "https://doi.org/10.3174/ajnr.a9307",
  "language": "en",
  "licence": "CC-BY",
  "licence_label": "CC BY",
  "licence_source": "journal",
  "licence_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/",
  "metadata_licence": null,
  "native_subjects": [
    [
      "heading",
      "Clinical"
    ],
    [
      "heading",
      "Spine Imaging and Spine Image-Guided Interventions"
    ],
    [
      "openalex",
      "2732|Spine and Intervertebral Disc Pathology"
    ]
  ],
  "openalex": "W7140229415",
  "pdf_url": null,
  "pmcid": "PMC13738323",
  "pmid": "41876223",
  "published": "2026-11-06",
  "publisher": "American Society of Neuroradiology",
  "ris": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/3mvvarsa6y4ww.ris",
  "sources": [
    {
      "first_seen": "2026-11-09T12:23:19Z",
      "native_id": "PMC13738323",
      "source": "pmc",
      "url": "https://doi.org/10.3174/ajnr.a9307"
    }
  ],
  "subjects": [
    {
      "field": "medicine",
      "origin": "openalex:2732|Spine and Intervertebral Disc Pathology",
      "subfield": "surgery"
    }
  ],
  "title": "Comparison of CT-Guided Platelet-Rich Plasma vs Steroid/Anesthetic Injection for Treatment of Sacroiliac Joint Pain: A Randomized, Single-Blinded, Controlled Trial",
  "title_text": "Comparison of CT-Guided Platelet-Rich Plasma vs Steroid/Anesthetic Injection for Treatment of Sacroiliac Joint Pain: A Randomized, Single-Blinded, Controlled Trial",
  "type": "peer-reviewed",
  "updated_at": "2026-11-09T12:23:19Z",
  "url": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/3mvvarsa6y4ww",
  "venue": "AJNR: American Journal of Neuroradiology",
  "versions": []
}