Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP)
Platelet Rich Plasma Therapy, also referred to as PRP Therapy, is a progressive non-surgical treatment to treat a variety of orthopedic conditions including arthritis, tendon injuries, and ligament injuries.
PRP is part of a group of state-of-the-art treatments collectively referred to as Regenerative Medicine. PRP treats an injured area naturally using your body’s own growth factors to accelerate healing. It has been shown to be safe and effective for numerous joint and soft tissue injuries and has been extensively researched in numerous medical publications from all over the world.
Some of the many uses of Platelet Rich Plasma include osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) of the spine, knee, shoulder, hip, hands, and feet, as well as meniscus tears, plantar fasciitis, and rotator cuff tears.
The procedure is simple and can be performed in the clinic. The PRP process begins when a small amount of the patients blood is removed from the arm and placed into a special container. The blood is then placed into a device called a centrifuge which spins the blood to help the separate the portion of the blood which becomes concentrated with platelets, thereby giving the procedure its name. These platelets are important because they release growth factors to recruit stem cells and to assist in healing an injured area naturally. Once the PRP is isolated, it is injected to the injured area under the guidance of an ultrasound machine to help accelerate healing and reduce pain.The entire process takes approximately one hour and patients are sent home the same day.
Athletes and active individuals who endure chronic pain from tendon injuries or osteoarthritis may finally get relief from a safe, non-surgical procedure. It’s called Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP) Therapy, and it utilizes platelets from the athletes’ own blood to rebuild a damaged tendon or cartilage. It has been successful in not only relieving the pain, but also in jumpstarting the healing process.
Platelet-Rich Plasma Therapy is done in an exam room and takes less than an hour. The patient’s blood is drawn and placed in a centrifuge for 15 minutes to separate out the platelets. The platelet-rich plasma is then injected into the damaged portion of the tendon or cartilage.
How do I know if I am a candidate for PRP therapy?
PRP therapy is advised for patients with moderate osteoarthritis in the hip, knee or shoulder or chronic tendonitis in the elbow or ankle. Typically the patient has failed conservative treatment options such as rest, medication, and physical therapy.
Who is not a candidate for PRP therapy?
- Any one with a blood borne Cancer (such as lymphoma or leukemia), not in remission for at least 5 years
- Certain other malignancies or blood borne diseases that you are being treated for
- Any current infection
- Patients using a high dosage of Coumadin
- Patients with cerebral palsy or Parkinson’s Disease
- General procedural contraindication
- Patients with multiple medical issues may not be good candidates
Does the treatment consist of one injection or multiple injections?
This is ultimately decided on a case-by-case basis. The physician will use the MRI or Ultrasound results to determine the number of injections. Typically the physician will suggest between 1 to 3 injections.
How long do I have to wait to return to my normal activities?
How quickly you can return to your normal activities depends on the condition and body part being treated.
- Injections in the elbow or shoulder are placed in a sling for 48 hours to 1 week or more and then as needed for comfort.
- For the ankle (Achilles tendon, peroneal tendon, plantar fascia), you will be required to wear a walking boot for up to two weeks or more. (If the injection is on the right side, you will not be able to drive with the boot on.)
- If you have an injection in your knee for osteoarthritis, you only need to rest for 24 hours and then you can return to your normal activities.If the injection is in your patellar tendon or quadriceps tendon, your knee will be placed in a knee immobilizer for 1-2 days.
- All procedures, except for possibly knee osteoarthritis, will begin therapy 1 week after the injection.
Can I drive home after the PRP injection?
If the injection is in your right knee or ankle, you will not be allowed to drive home. If the injection is located in any other body part, you may drive yourself home after the injection.
Do I need to schedule a follow up appointment?
Yes, the physician will want to see you back in clinic to check your progress.You will be asked to make a follow up appointment 6 weeks following the injection.
Can I take my normal medication(s) before and after the injection?
Do not take anti-inflammatory medication such as Advil, Aleve, Motrin, Ibuprofen, Mobic, Naproxen, Nabumetone, or Diclofenac for 7 days prior to the injection and 6 weeks after the last injection. Pain medication will be prescribed the day of the procedure to be taken as needed.
PRP for Facial Rejuvination
Benefits of PRP
PRP benefits you in many ways. It is a safe healing process that has been studied and applied to restore many areas of concern. This treatment accelerates the rejuvenating properties of the body, eliminating the need for cosmetic surgery. PRP is also biocompatible with the human body, requiring little or no recovery time.
This method is extremely safe, with no risk of allergic reaction because the PRP gel is produced by your own blood. Furthermore, concentrated quantities of white blood cells (the body’s defenders against infection) are also a part of the plasma being created into a mask the skin absorbs at the end of the treatments. This, too, promotes the skin’s restoration. Thus, infection is less likely to occur.
PRP is a simple four-step process
- It begins with the collection of your blood. About 54- 20ML are collected.
- The blood is then put into a machine called a centrifuge, which separates the three components of blood.
- Once the components are separated, the platelet-rich plasma is injected into desired area. From collection of blood to injections takes about 45 – 60 minutes.
- At this point, then your plasma is created as a gel that is then used as a mask to be absorbed by the skin to assist in the restoration process.
FAQ’s – Platelet Rich Plasma
Is PRP safe?
PRP is very safe, using the patient’s own blood to stimulate the body’s natural ability to repair itself without any side effects associated with conventional injections.
Are there any contraindications to PRP?
If you have any of the following, PRP is not recommended:
Platelet dysfunctions
Critical thrombocytopenia, commonly known as blood clotting disorder, or
Hemodynamic or blood circulation instability
Side Effects with PRP?
Although uncommon, symptoms within an injection area are the only thing to look for, such as redness and slight bruising. Although, everyone responds differently, reactions may not have any effect on you. If redness does occur, it usually begins to subside within a few hours after treatment.
Post-care instructions will be recommended by your practitioner.
What results should I expect from the PRP treatment?
You can expect a great deal of improvement in skin texture and volume within three to four weeks of your procedure. Progression of results will continue for up to three months.
How long is the PRP procedure from start to finish?
The actual treatment time is 45 – 60 minutes for the complete procedure.
Treated areas
The most common conditions for PRP therapy include: fine wrinkles around the eyes, nasolabial grooves, wrinkles on the lips, acne marks, wrinkles on the forehead, wrinkles on the neck, bags and dark circles under the eyes and scars..
Sources :http://www.jointandspine.com/prp-therapy/what-is-prp/ ; http://www.emoryhealthcare.org/sports-medicine/procedures/advanced-techniques/prp-therapy.html