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Platelet-rich plasma or PRP is an "autologous blood therapy" that uses a patient's own blood components to stimulate a healing response in damaged tissues. In
response to an injury or tissue damage, your body naturally recruits platelets and white blood cells from the blood to initiate a healing response. Under normal
conditions, platelets store numerous growth factors which are released in response to signals from the injured tissue. Modern technology allows us to concentrate
platelets and white blood cells from your blood, and induce this growth factor release as we inject the solution directly into injured tissue, simulating this same
healing response in a more powerful form. By enhancing the body's natural healing capacity, the treatment may lead to a more rapid, more efficient, and more thorough
restoration of the tissue to a healthy state.
What conditions can be treated with PRP?
- Knee Pain
- Patellar tendonitis/tendinosis
- Quadriceps muscle injuries
- Ligament sprains or tears
- Bursitis
- Hip Pain
- Hip girdle muscle pain or injury
- Pyriformis syndrome
- Greater trochanteric Bursitis
- Ischial bursitis
- Pubic symphysis pain
- Sacroiliac joint pain
- Hamstring tendonitis or tears
- Shoulder and Arm Pain
- Rotator Cuff tendonitis, tendonopathy or partial tears
- Acromio-clavicular joint pain or arthritis
- Bicipital tendonitis
- Medial and Lateral epicondylitis (golfers & tennis elbow)
- Ulnar Collateral Ligament sprain or tear
- Back Pain
- Spinal nerve inflammation
- Facet Joint arthritis
- Disc herniation or tear
- Interspinous ligament sprain
- Lower Leg and Foot
- Plantar Fasciitis
- Shin Splints
- Peroneal tendonitis
- Ankle sprains
- Achilles tendonitis or partial tears
Treatment Process:
Following a formal evaluation and diagnostic workup, an individualized treatment plan will be discussed with you. A full explanation of the procedure including risks
and benefits will be reviewed. Once written consent is obtained, blood is drawn from your arm and placed in a special processing unit, which separates platelets,
white blood cells and serum from red blood cells. The platelets and white blood cells are then concentrated and collected into a sterile syringe. Some of the blood
is used to create an "activator" of the PRP. The skin and soft tissue is anesthetized with local anesthetic, followed by injection of both the PRP and activator
into the tissue targeted for treatment. Depending on the size of the injured tissue, one or several needles are inserted to optimize placement of the PRP.
Treatment plan:
Depending on the severity and duration of your injury, one to three PRP injections are suggested. Following the initial treatment with PRP, a follow up visit
occurs 2-3 weeks later. At this visit an evaluation of your response to the initial therapy is performed and a decision is made regarding the need for additional
PRP treatments. In general, chronic injuries require more than one injection. In both acute and chronic injuries, injections may be combined with an exercise or
physical therapy program to enhance the success of the treatment.
Are PRP injections safe?
Research and clinical data show that PRP injections are extremely safe, with minimal risk for any adverse reaction or complication. Because PRP is produced from
your own blood, there is no concern for rejection or disease transmission. There is a small risk of infection from any injection into the body, but this is rare. Of
note, recent research suggests that PRP may have an anti-bacterial property which protects against possible infection (4).
What to expect after your treatment:
Often, following the initial injection, an "achy" soreness is felt at the site of injury. This "soreness" is a positive sign that a healing response has been set in
motion. This effect can last for several days and gradually decreases as healing and tissue repair occurs. It is important that anti-inflammatory medications such as
Ibuprofen, Naproxen and Aspirin be avoided following PRP treatments. These medicines may block the effects of the intended healing response facilitated by the
injection itself. It is acceptable to use over the counter pain medication, such as Tylenol and in some cases a prescribed analgesic, which does not have
anti-inflammatory properties, to control discomfort as needed. Pain management options will be discussed with you by the physician managing your treatment plan.
You will be permitted to resume normal day to day activities and light exercise following injection. We suggest that you avoid strenuous lifting or high level
exercise for at least several days after injection.
How do I find out if PRP is right for me?
Questions regarding PRP or your candidacy for the treatments can be addressed to Dr. Karli at the Steadman Hawkins Clinic in Vail, Colorado. Contact person for the
PRP treatment program is Robin Fuessenich, Clinical Coordinator for Dr Karli. She can be reached at (970) 476 1100 - Ext 5886. We would be happy to review a brief
history of your problem via telephone in order to determine if a formal evaluation is warranted.
Selected References
1. Anitua E, S. M., Nurden A, Nurden P, Orive G, Andia I. (2006). "New insights into and novel applications for platelet-rich fibrin therapies."
Trends in Biotechnology 24(5): 227-234.
2. Becker C, H. S., Drewlo S, Rodriguez SZ, Kramer J, Willburger RE. (2007). "Efficacy of epidural perineural injections with autologous conditioned serum for
lumbar radicular compression." Spine 32(17): 1803-1808.
3. Mishra A, A. J., Anitua E, Andia I, Padilla S, Mujika I. (2007). "Treatment of chronic elbow tendinosis with buffered platelet-rich plasma."
Am J of Sports Med 34(11): 1774-1778.
4. Moojen D, E. P., Schure R, et al. (2007). "Antimicrobial activity of platelet-leukocyte gel against Staphylococcus anreus." Journal of Orthopaedic Research
DOI: 10.1002/jor.20519.
5. Sanchez M, A. E., Azofra J, Andia I, Padilla S, Mujika I. (2007). "Comparison of Surgically Repaired Achilles Tendon Tears Using Platelet-Rich Fibrin Matrices."
Am J of Sports Med 10(10): 1-7.
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