Platelet-rich plasma therapy (PRP) is a promising solution to accelerate the healing of tendon injuries and osteoarthritis. Its benefits are now being applied towards the facilitation of healing tendons, and cartilage and treating pain.
Using the patient’s own blood, specially prepared platelets are taken and re-injected into the affected area under ultrasound guidance to ensure accuracy. These platelets release substances known as “growth factors” that lead to tissue healing.
What is platelet-rich plasma?
Platelet-rich plasma consists of two elements: plasma, or the liquid portion of blood, and platelets, a type of blood cell that plays an important role in healing throughout the body. Platelets are well-known for their clotting abilities, but they also contain growth factors that can trigger cell reproduction and stimulate tissue regeneration or healing in the treated area. Platelet-rich plasma is simply blood that contains more platelets than normal.
To create platelet-rich plasma, a doctor will take a blood sample from the patient and place it into a device called a centrifuge that rapidly spins the sample, separating out the other components of the blood from the platelets and concentrating them within the plasma.
What is a PRP injection?
After creating platelet-rich plasma from a patient’s blood sample, that solution is injected into the target area under the use of ultrasound guidance. The idea is to increase the concentration of specific bioproteins or hormones, called growth factors, in a specific area to accelerate the healing process.
The mechanism behind PRP injections is not completely understood. Studies show that the increased concentration of growth factors in platelet-rich plasma may stimulate or speed up the healing process, shortening healing time for injuries, and decreasing pain.
What is PRP treatment used for?
PRP injections are used for a range of conditions, including musculoskeletal pain and injuries. PRP injections can also provide relief for some forms of arthritis of the knee i.e. osteoarthritis of the knee, which is usually from degeneration and ‘wear and tear’. Other joints that can also be treated with PRP injections include the sacroiliac joint (SIJ), hip joint, ankle joint and shoulder joint.
Tendon, Ligament, Muscle and Joint Injuries
PRP injections may be able to treat a range of musculoskeletal injuries and conditions. For example, tendinopathy, chronic tendon injuries such as tennis elbow or other chronic tendon injuries that result in for example hip pain, gluteal tendons etc., so adding PRP shots to a treatment regimen can help to stimulate the healing process, decrease pain and enable a return to activities sooner.
Osteoarthritis
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.
PRP Therapy Risks and Side Effects
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.
Before PRP Treatment
You do not need to prepare much for the procedure, however, certain medications will need to be withheld prior to your treatment. Anti-inflammatory medications have an effect on platelet function and should be stopped one week before your procedure and for 1 week following PRP treatment.
Please let us know if you:
- are taking any blood thinning medications, including aspirin.
- have a current infection
- have been told you have a low platelet count
- are pregnant or are breastfeeding
- have an allergy to local anaesthetic
PRP Treatment
The procedure is quick and simple and should take about 30 minutes. As we use your own blood, we will take your blood sample into special tubes and spin it in a centrifuge in order to prepare the platelet-rich plasma (PRP). Your pain specialist will numb the skin where the injections will be administered, using local anesthetics and under ultrasound guidance, the PRP solution will be injected. The procedure is normally well tolerated, however, you may experience slight discomfort during injection.
It is recommended that the patient organises a lift home and rest after the injection. As PRP results vary, a series of one or more PRP injections may be required
PRP Injections Recovery Time
Gentle activity and rest are advised for the first 48 hours following your PRP injection. Following your procedure can resume your normal activities and commence rehabilitation exercises. A moderate amount of discomfort is expected in the 2 – 5 days following the procedure. Simple pain relief medications such as paracetamol is recommended in this period. You should not be taking any anti-inflammatory or anti-platelet medications for a week after the procedure, this includes aspirin.
The effects of PRP injections do not usually occur quickly but you may find that over the course of a few months, you make slow and steady progress and improvements.
