Intradiscal Autologous Platelet-Rich Plasma Injection for Discogenic Low Back Pain: A Clinical Trial

Table 1

Inclusion and exclusion criteria for study participation.

Inclusion criteria

Exclusion criteria

(i) Refractory discogenic source of low back pain persisting for ≧6 months; (ii) Failure of conservative treatment measures (oral medications, physical therapy, and/or injection therapy); (iii) Maintained intervertebral disc height of at least 50%; (iv) Disc protrusion less than 5 mm on magnetic resonance imaging or computed tomography scan; (v) Concordant pain on discography, presence of a grade 3 or 4 annular fissure as determined by discography; (vi) Absent alcohol or drug abuse within the past 5 years

(i) Presence of a known bleeding disorder; (ii) Lumbar spine surgery within the past 6 months; (iii) Pregnant or breastfeeding; (iv) Active infection; (v) Allergy to contrast agent; (vi) Severe psychological illness; (vii) Severe spinal canal compromise at the levels to be investigated; (viii) Extrusions or sequestered disc fragments; (ix) Spondylolysis; (x) Inflammatory arthritis; (xi) Negative provocation discography; (xii) Presence of a grade 5 annular fissure with demonstrated extravasation of contrast