Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP)

A PRP injection is a low-risk procedure and does not usually cause major side effects. The procedure involves a blood draw, so you should make sure you are hydrated and have eaten beforehand to prevent feeling lightheaded. After the procedure, you may experience some soreness and bruising at the injection site.

Because PRP injections are made up of your own cells and plasma, the risk of an allergic reaction is much lower than with other injectable medications like corticosteroids. Less common risks of PRP injections include: 

• Bleeding
• Tissue damage
• Infection
• Nerve injuries

If you are considering PRP injections, be sure to talk with your health care provider about all the benefits and risks.

Research for the different applications of PRP is promising and rapidly growing. Although the equipment used to produce PRP and the injections themselves have been cleared by the FDA, this procedure is considered investigational and has not been officially approved by the FDA for most uses. Since PRP is a substance derived from one’s own blood, it is not considered a drug. FDA clearance means that doctors can prescribe and administer PRP if they believe it’s in the best interest of the patient. However, lack of the FDA approval means that PRP treatments may not be covered by insurance.

1. What is PRP treatment used for?

• PRP injections are used for a range of conditions,* from musculoskeletal pain
• Early studies indicate that PRP injections may help treat osteoarthritis pain and stiffness by modulating the joint environment and reducing inflammation, but research is growing.

2. Ligament, Muscle and Joint Injuries

PRP injections may be able to treat a range of musculoskeletal injuries and conditions. For example, chronic tendon injuries such as tennis elbow or jumper’s knee can often take a long time to heal, so adding PRP shots to a treatment regimen can help to stimulate the healing process, decrease pain and enable a return to activities sooner.

3. Post-surgical Healing

Clinicians first used PRP to accelerate healing after jaw or plastic surgeries. Now, post-surgical PRP injections have expanded to help heal muscles, tendons, and ligaments, as procedures on these tissues have notoriously long recovery times.

PLATELET-RICH PLASMA (PRP) THERAPY

INTRODUCTION

Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP) Therapy is a cutting-edge procedure that is revolutionizing the field of orthopedic medicine.  PRP therapy is a new treatment that relieves pain and promotes long lasting healing of musculoskeletal conditions. PRP Therapy uses components of the body’s own blood cells to formulate a customized “cocktail” that stimulates the natural healing process in certain orthopedic conditions. 

The body’s first response to any soft tissue injury is to deliver platelet cells. Filled with healing and growth factors, platelets jump start the repair process and attract the essential aid of stem cells. PRP therapy’s natural healing process magnifies the body’s efforts by delivering a higher concentration of platelets through a simple injection.

PRP therapy is associated with reduction in pain and faster healing and has lower risks and lower costs than surgery.

CAUSES

Platelet rich plasma (PRP) therapy is a rapidly emerging technique that is showing exciting potential, particularly with soft tissue injuries such as to tendons and ligaments.

A main benefit of PRP Therapy is that it provides pain relief and healing and can eliminate the need for surgery and prolonged recovery.  It may also be used as a treatment for some people that are not candidates for surgery. PRP Therapy is a low-risk minimally invasive procedure. It uses the body’s own cells and natural biological healing process. The concentrated platelet rich plasma (PRP) that is injected into and around the point of injury jump-starts and significantly strengthens the body’s natural healing process.  Recovery with PRP therapy is often much faster than with surgery. Because your own blood is used, there is no risk of a transmitting infection and a very low risk of allergic reaction.

TREATMENT

PRP Injections are a much simpler procedure than surgery. PRP Injections are short office procedures. To complete PRP therapy, a sample of your blood is drawn (similar to a lab test sample) and the blood is then spun at high speeds, separating the platelets from the other components. The concentrated platelet rich plasma (PRP) is then injected into and around the point of injury. No stitches are necessary since just a needle was used.

The procedure takes under an hour, including preparation and recovery time. Performed safely in the office, PRP therapy relieves pain without the risks of surgery, general anesthesia, or hospital stays and without a prolonged recovery. In fact, most people return to their jobs or usual activities right after the procedure.

Up to three injections may be given within a 3-month time frame, usually performed two to three weeks apart. You may, however, gain considerable to complete relief after the first or second injection.

The goal of PRP therapy is to resolve pain through healing. Initial improvement may be seen within a few weeks, gradually increasing as the healing progresses. Studies have shown PRP therapy to be effective at relieving pain and returning patients to their normal activities and daily lives. Both ultrasound and MRI images have shown definitive tissue repair after PRP therapy, confirming the healing process. The need for surgery can also be greatly reduced by treating injured tissues before the damage progresses and the condition is irreversible.

Recent News

Recent news headlines have featured the amazing results that professional athletes have experienced with PRP Therapy. Pro football players Hines Ward and Troy Polamalu of the Pittsburgh Steelers received PRP Therapy after injuries that should have side-lined them for months, but they returned to play in a matter of weeks, winning the Super Bowl.  Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Takashi Saito received PRP Therapy for an elbow condition and returned to play in just a few months, versus up to 14 months that recovery from surgery would have taken. Unprecedented results have also been reported for other professional soccer, baseball, and football players. While PRP Therapy is just beginning to become mainstream news, it has been around for quite some time.

Although PRP Therapy is relatively new to the field of orthopedics, it has been used for more than 20 years in dentistry.  PRP Therapy has been used to promote healing following jaw reconstruction for patients with cancer.  Its use has expanded to other medical specialties, including cardiovascular surgery, sports medicine, urology, cosmetic surgery, and ophthalmology. These studies show that recovery time is quicker, and the risks are lower with PRP Therapy.  Researchers are now focused on its use in musculoskeletal injuries.

In the field of orthopedics, PRP Therapy is being studied for use in the joints, spine, bone, ligaments, and tendons.  Because the studies have used a small number of participants, larger studies are necessary before the results can be generalized.  Researchers are optimistic that after future studies, insurance will cover the procedure, and speculate that the procedure may become a protocol before surgical treatment.

10 FACTS ON PRP TREATMENTS FOR KNEE PROBLEMS

PRP treatments are an innovative approach to regenerative medicine— a branch of medicine concerned with the development of methods to regrow, restore, or replace damaged and diseased cells or tissues.

PRP treatments have been touted by experts as an excellent solution for pain and other discomforts associated with a wide variety of musculoskeletal problems, such as those that affect the knee. The approach has been found to be particularly effective in the treatment of knee joint injuries and degenerative joint disease (osteoarthritis), reducing the need for surgery in the future.

Here are 10 facts about PRP treatments that are definitely worth knowing, especially if you’ve been contemplating getting them for your knee condition.

1.) PRP TREATMENTS ARE DERIVED FROM YOUR OWN BLOOD.

PRP treatments involve drawing a small amount of your own blood (similar to a lab test sample), then processing it using a centrifuge to separate the platelet-rich plasma from the other components. It then gets injected into and around the site of injury or damage.

2.) PRP TREATMENTS ARE A MINIMALLY INVASIVE PROCEDURE.

PRP treatments are a quick in-office procedure, often performed in less than an hour. Since PRP therapy only involves the use of injections, incisions and stitches are therefore not required.

3.) PRP TREATMENTS ARE MUCH SAFER AND MORE EFFECTIVE THAN CORTISONE SHOTS.

PRP therapy is also more effective and doesn’t wear off as quickly compared to cortisone shots. Results of different studies indicate PRP to be more effective than cortisone injections for the treatment of knee arthritis.

4.) PRP TREATMENTS ARE A LOW-RISK PROCEDURE.

PRP treatments are a safe and well-tolerated procedure. Because it is made up of the patients own blood, there is no risk of developing infections and other complications. As with any type of procedure, there are risks involved, but these are very rare with PRP treatments.

5.) PRP TREATMENTS HAVE LONGER-LASTING BENEFITS COMPARED TO HYALURONIC ACID AND CORTISONE INJECTIONS.

PRP treatments have shown to have longer-term results and less reinjection and/or surgery rate, making them a more attractive option compared to hyaluronic acid and cortisone shots.

6.) PRP TREATMENT INVOLVES LESS PAIN AND REQUIRES NO DOWNTIME.

In a majority of cases, PRP injections are not considered painful. Some patients may experience some minor discomfort, such as soreness and aching at the injection site, but these are usually only temporary. A local anesthetic may be recommended for certain types of PRP treatments.

Most patients can return to their jobs or usual activities right after the procedure.

7.) PRP TREATMENT HAS A FAIRLY HIGH SUCCESS RATE. 

Based on the results of a study that evaluated the effects of platelet-rich plasma injections on 100 people who had degenerative cartilage lesions in their knees, majority of the participants saw significant improvements in their pain six months after their treatment.

Results of another study, which was conducted on 120 patients with knee osteoarthritis who had PRP injections, indicated that majority of the participants experienced greater improvements in pain and mobility.

8.) PRP TREATMENT CAN ELIMINATE THE NEED FOR SURGERY.

PRP therapy can help prevent inflammatory responses in knee injuries and slow the progression of cartilage and joint deterioration in osteoarthritis, thereby delaying—and even preventing—the need for joint replacement surgery in the future.

9.) PRP TREATMENT SPEEDS UP RECOVERY.

The extracted growth factors and proteins in the plasma interact with local cells, triggering them to divide and migrate, consequently reversing tissue damage, promoting healing, and speeding up recovery.

10.)      PRP TREATMENT IS POPULAR AMONG ELITE ATHLETES.

There have been several reports about professional athletes having experienced amazing results with PRP Therapy. Pro football players Hines Ward and Troy Polamalu of the Pittsburgh Steelers reported receiving PRP therapy after injuries that should have sidelined them for months. After receiving PRP therapy, they returned to play in a matter of weeks, winning the Super Bowl.

Extraordinary results and much quicker recoveries from injuries have also been reported by other professional soccer, baseball, and football players.