Platelet Rich Plasma, or PRP, is blood plasma with concentrated platelets and other growth factors. The concentrated platelets found in PRP contain huge reservoirs of bioactive proteins, including growth factors and signaling proteins that are vital to initiate and accelerate tissue repair and regeneration. These growth factors number at least a dozen different factors. These bioactive proteins initiate connective tissue healing in tissues such as meniscus (knee) and rotator cuff tissue, bone and articular cartilage regeneration and repair, promote development of new blood vessels, and stimulate the wound healing process.
PRP signals the body to send in stem cells to repair the area of injury. PRP injections are sometimes done under ultrasound guidance. This is done for precise localized delivery of PRP into injured ligaments, muscles, and joints; PRP stem cell interaction is crucial to the healing process.
Platelet Rich Plasma therapy is a treatment option for various Orthopaedic injuries and conditions, which have traditionally required surgery or other extensive treatments. PRP injections are being utilized in Orthopaedics with increasing frequency and effectiveness. Injuries currently being treated with the PRP therapy are arthritis of the hip, knee, shoulder, ankle and other joints. PRP also is utilized for soft tissue injuries such as tendonitis, muscle sprains and tears, and various types of ligament injuries. These include common tendon injuries such as tennis and golfers’ elbow, Achilles tendonitis and knee tendonitis. PRP is also used to treat various injuries and conditions affecting (joint) injuries. These include rotator cuff and meniscus injuries.
PRP technology is considered cutting edge technology. Its benefits are now being applied towards the facilitating of healing muscle, tendons, ligaments, articular and meniscal injuries. In fact, PRP has been widely used in Europe for many years.
To prepare PRP, a small amount of blood is taken from the patient’s arm. The blood is then placed in a centrifuge. The centrifuge spins and separates the platelets form the rest of the blood components. The entire process takes less than 15 minutes and increases the concentration of platelets and growth factors up to 600%. Using the patient’s own blood, specially prepared platelets are taken and re-injected into the affected area. These PRP injections release special growth factors that lead to tissue healing. By using the concentrated platelets, we increase the growth factors up to eight times which promotes temporary relief and stops inflammation. PRP injections typically heal the affected area over a period of one to three months.
The human body has a remarkable ability to heal itself, and by re-injecting concentrated platelets, we are facilitating the natural healing process. The PRP injections are calling in stem cells to repair the area. When performing these injections, we must do whatever we can to maximize stem cell release to optimize healing. We know certain factors diminish stem cell release such as smoking and alcohol intake. Obviously avoiding these pitfalls will do nothing but increase the success of the procedure. The platelets work by releasing growth factors which attract and activate stem cells. There is a misconception that one is not allowed to take NSAIDS (Advil, Aleve etc.) when using PRP therapy. The truth is that these medicines do not affect the release of the growth factors. The growth factors are released when the platelets typically come in touch with a body tissue. Unfortunately, many physicians still believe that that the use of NSAIDS should be avoided but there is no scientific evidence for this. We now recommend patients stop the anti inflammatories a day or two before beginning PRP stem cell therapy resume them if needed two days after the procedure.
The number of PRP injections performed depends upon the severity and the type of condition being treated. Age also seems to have an effect on the number of injections given; younger people generally need fewer injections for the same condition than older people. After the PRP injection is given, there is usually a mild increase in pain for anywhere from 5-10 days. Tylenol and possibly a mild narcotic usually handle this pain.
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