Plasma rich in growth factors injection effectiveness for myofascial pain treatment in masticatory muscles. Randomised controlled trial.

Background: Myofascial pain in masticatory muscles is one of the most common temporomandibular disorder. Nowadays, the most usable treatment methods are based on the muscle taut band cell membrane disruption, which releases the taut band. Platelet-rich plasma, made with PRGF Endoret method, gives an opportunity to use platelet-derived growth factors in treatment processes. It has been proven that platelet-derived growth factors can relief pain and activate muscle regeneration.

Objective: To test a hypothesis that PRGF injections can be effective for treating myofascial pain in masticatory muscles.

Methods: Fifty adult patients participated in the study. Participants were randomly divided into two groups. The first group received 1-mL lidocaine injections to trigger point in their masseter muscle. The second group of patients received 1-mL PRGF injections. The patients' pain was measured by using visual analogue scale (VAS).

Result: Statistically significant difference in pain levels before the procedure and 4 weeks after it was found in both groups. There was no statistically significant difference between groups in pain levels before the procedure (P = .063) and 2 weeks after it (P = .123); however, statistically significant difference was noticed 4 weeks after the procedure (P < .001). Four weeks after the procedure, patients' average pain in lidocaine group was 3.4 on VAS, and it was 0.9 in PRGF group.

Conclusions: PRGF injections in masseter muscle affected by myofascial pain syndrome are an effective treatment method. PRGF injections more effectively relief myofascial pain in masseter muscle than lidocaine injections.