P210 - Epidemiology of Platelet-Rich Plasma Injections from 2010 to 2020 in a Large United States Commercial Insurance Claims Database
- E. Berlinberg (Chicago, US)
- E. Berlinberg (Chicago, US)
- M. Zabat (New York, US)
- E. Forlenza (Chicago, US)
- H. Patel (Chicago, US)
- J. Chahla (Chicago, US)
- B. Forsythe (Chicago, US)
Abstract
Purpose
The popularity of platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injections for the treatment of orthopaedic conditions has grown significantly. We sought to better define the trends of use of this newer treatment modality in orthopedic surgery over the past decade.
Methods and Materials
The Humana administrative claims database was queried for patients receiving PRP injections between 2010 through the first quarter of 2020 (Q1.2020). Injection site was identified by a concomitant diagnosis code encompassing a broad list of shoulder, elbow, hip, knee, and foot/ankle pathologies. A time-series analysis was conducted using linear regression to assess the change in proportions over the years.
Results
From 2010-Q1.2020, 21,554 PRP injections occurred in 16,355 patients. Annual injection counts increased from 703 (2010), to 2627 (2015), and 3057 by 2019 (P=0.002). The average age of patients receiving PRP increased from 52 years (IQR 42-60, 2010) to 57 (IQR 46-66, 2019) (P<0.0001). Gender (44.2-46.6% male, P>0.99) and regional breakdown (37.7-47.4% South, P=0.56) did not vary by year. Commonly injected joints included the knee (33%), foot/ankle (19%), shoulder (17%), elbow (10%), and hip (9%). 11% of PRP injections were administered elsewhere. Over the decade, there was an increase in the proportion of knee injections (beta coefficient=+1.2% per year, 95%CI 0.5-1.9%, Ptrend=0.004) and a decrease in the proportion of foot/ankle (beta coefficient = -0.9% per year, 95% CI -1.3 - [-0.5] %, Ptrend<0.001) and elbow (beta coefficient=(-0.7)% per year, 95%CI -0.9–[-0.4]%, Ptrend=0.001) injections. General orthopedists administered most injections (39%), followed by orthopedic sports medicine (9%), family-practice sports medicine (8%), and physiatrists (6%). Injections by sports orthopedists proportionally increased from 5.5% (2010) to 12.1% (2019, P=0.017).
Conclusion
PRP injections became significantly more popular from 2010-Q1.2020, more than quadrupling in prevalence. Its application to sports medicine pathologies continues to evolve and proliferate as more indications are validated.