Evidence map›Paper›PMID 39239611›Full record

ArticleInterventional pain medicine2023

Cervical facet joint platelet-rich plasma in people with chronic whiplash-associated disorders: A prospective case series of longer term 6- and 12- month outcomes.

Ashley Smith, Ben Andruski, George Deng, Robert Burnham

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Interventional pain medicine, 2023. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 7 papers, 2 of them syntheses that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
7citing papers in PubMed, 2 pooled it
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

7 citing papers in PubMed, 2 syntheses or guidelines pooled it.

  1. Pooled it
  2. Overview of Available Treatments and Their Limitations for Hypertrophic Facet Joints-A Systematic Review of the Literature.Journal of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. Global research & reviews · 2025
    Pooled it
  3. Trial
  4. Trial
  5. Article
  6. Article
  7. Review
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

4 authors.

Ashley SmithDepartment of Clinical Neurosciences, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, 2500 University Drive, Calgary, Alberta, T2N 1N4, Canada.
Ben AndruskiVivoCura Health, #100, 325 Manning Rd NE, Calgary, Alberta, T2E 2P5, Canada.
George DengDepartment of Clinical Neurosciences, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, 2500 University Drive, Calgary, Alberta, T2N 1N4, Canada.
Robert BurnhamVivoCura Health, #100, 325 Manning Rd NE, Calgary, Alberta, T2E 2P5, Canada.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Objective: To explore the 6- and 12-month effectiveness of a single autologous injection of platelet-rich plasma (PRP) in cervical facet joints of people with chronic WAD and facet-mediated pain. Design: A prospective case series of people with chronic whiplash-associated disorders and cervical facet joint mediated pain in a community setting. Interventions: We investigated 44 consecutive people who underwent cervical facet joint PRP ( ​± ​adjunct physiotherapy) between 2019 and 2021, selected for PRP based on 80% relief following single diagnostic medial branch blocks or 50% relief and a significant improvement in performing a previously limited activity of daily living. Measures: Measures of pain (numerical pain rating scale - NPRS) and disability (Neck Disability Index - NDI) were collected prior to and 3-, 6- and 12- months following cervical facet joint PRP in an electronic registry database. Success was defined as those exceeding the minimal clinically important difference (MCID) for pain (>15%) and disability (>10%). We also calculated the proportion of people with greater than 50% relief of pain. People not reached for follow-up were considered failures for worst-case analysis. Results: Forty-four people (82% female, mean age ​= ​45.2 (range: 25-71) years) underwent cervical facet joint PRP. Nine people received repeat PRP interventions. Thirty-five people provided 12-month data. There was a significant improvement in pain and disability following PRP (and possibly adjunct physiotherapy) received during this time period. At 12-months, 53% of people exceeded MCID for pain, reporting a mean improvement of 66% (95%CI: 55-77%) on the NPRS. For NDI scores, 69% of people exceeded MCID, reporting a mean improvement of 48% (95%CI: 38-58%). Thirty-seven percent of people reported greater than 50% relief of pain 12-months post-cervical facet joint PRP. Conclusion: In people with chronic WAD and facet-mediated pain, our long-term data suggests that PRP (and possibly adjunct physiotherapy) is effective. A controlled study is warranted to evaluate the efficacy of PRP.

Indexed as

Cervical facet jointChronic painNeck painPlatelet-rich plasmaWhiplash associated disorders

Identifiers

PMID39239611
PMCPMC11373009

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.