You have probably heard of Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) Therapy or Regenerative Injection Therapy in the news. Many professional athletic teams are using this treatment to get their players back in the game sooner. This treatment is not only for professional athletes. Everyone wants to get back to what they do for play or for work as soon as possible. PRP Therapy utilizes the body’s own bioactive proteins, also know as growth factors, to replace, repair and regenerate tissue.
PRP has been used for over 20 years in numerous surgical fields to enhance bone grafting, accelerate wound healing and reduce the risk of infection after surgery. In recent years, physicians have begun injecting PRP to treat chronic injuries. Below is a list of the common orthopaedic problems that physicians treat with PRP Therapy:
Shoulder Pain
Rotator Cuff Tendinosis
Osteoarthritis
Arm Pain
Biceps Tendonitis
Tennis & Golfer’s Elbow
Wrist Tendonitis
Osteoarthritis of the Wrist or Fingers
De Quervain’s Tenosynovitis
Knee Pain
Patella Tendinosis (Jumper’s Knee)
Hip Pain
Trochanteric Bursitis
Hamstring Tendonitis
Quadriceps Tendonitis
Osteoarthritis
SI Joint Arthritis/Synovitis
Foot and Ankle Pain
Achilles Tendinosis
Plantar Fasciitis
Osteoarthritis
Chronic ankle sprain/ Tendinosis
PRP Overview:
PRP is an emerging treatment in a new health sector known as “orthobiologics.” The philosophy is to merge cutting edge technology with the body’s natural ability to heal itself. PRP has the potential to revolutionize not just sports medicine but all of orthopaedics. The PRP method centers on injecting portions of a patient’s blood directly into the injured area, which catalyzes the body’s instincts to repair muscle, bone and other tissue. Most enticing is that the technique appears to help regenerate ligament and tendon fibers, which could shorten rehabilitation time and possibly obviate surgery.
Treatment Process:
PRP is obtained by drawing a sample of blood from the patient and placing it into a centrifuge that separates the red blood cells from the platelets. This technology yields a high concentration of platelets and white blood cells that is five to seven times normal. Musculoskeletal ultrasound is used to properly identify the area of injury. A local anesthetic is applied to the area followed by PRP injections with ultrasound guidance to ensure that the appropriate target is reached.
What Patients Can Expect After PRP Treatments:
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 Tylenol and apply ice and elevation as needed. Patients will be permitted to resume normal day-to-day activities and light exercise following injection. It is suggested that patients avoid strenuous lifting or high level exercise for at least several days after the injection.
This treatment is not a “quick fix” and is designed to promote long-term healing of the injured tissue. The regeneration of collagen takes four to six months and may require multiple injections. For most cases, one to three injections are required at four to six week intervals. Pain and functional recovery will be assessed two or three weeks after the injection to determine further therapy needs.
Safety of the Treatment:
Research and clinical data show that PRP injections are extremely safe, with minimal risk for any adverse reaction or complication. There is little chance for rejection or allergic reaction because the substance is autologous. The injection carries far less chance for infection than an incision and leaves no scar, and it takes only about 20 minutes, with a considerably shorter recovery time than required after surgery. FBN
Dr. O’Donnell is a board certified sports medicine physician who specializes in non-surgical orthopaedic treatment options. He specializes in concussion management care and ultrasound guided procedures including joint and soft tissue injections, PRP and Prolotherapy. Flagstaff Bone and Joint 77 W. Forest Ave., Ste. 301 Flagstaff AZ 86001 928-773-2280.
You have probably heard of Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) Therapy or Regenerative Injection Therapy in the news. Many professional athletic teams are using this treatment to get their players back in the game sooner. This treatment is not only for professional athletes. Everyone wants to get back to what they do for play or for work as soon as possible. PRP Therapy utilizes the body’s own bioactive proteins, also know as growth factors, to replace, repair and regenerate tissue.
PRP has been used for over 20 years in numerous surgical fields to enhance bone grafting, accelerate wound healing and reduce the risk of infection after surgery. In recent years, physicians have begun injecting PRP to treat chronic injuries. Below is a list of the common orthopaedic problems that physicians treat with PRP Therapy:
Shoulder Pain
Rotator Cuff Tendinosis
Osteoarthritis
Arm Pain
Biceps Tendonitis
Tennis & Golfer’s Elbow
Wrist Tendonitis
Osteoarthritis of the Wrist or Fingers
De Quervain’s Tenosynovitis
Knee Pain
Patella Tendinosis (Jumper’s Knee)
Hip Pain
Trochanteric Bursitis
Hamstring Tendonitis
Quadriceps Tendonitis
Osteoarthritis
SI Joint Arthritis/Synovitis
Foot and Ankle Pain
Achilles Tendinosis
Plantar Fasciitis
Osteoarthritis
Chronic ankle sprain/ Tendinosis
PRP Overview:
PRP is an emerging treatment in a new health sector known as “orthobiologics.” The philosophy is to merge cutting edge technology with the body’s natural ability to heal itself. PRP has the potential to revolutionize not just sports medicine but all of orthopaedics. The PRP method centers on injecting portions of a patient’s blood directly into the injured area, which catalyzes the body’s instincts to repair muscle, bone and other tissue. Most enticing is that the technique appears to help regenerate ligament and tendon fibers, which could shorten rehabilitation time and possibly obviate surgery.
Treatment Process:
PRP is obtained by drawing a sample of blood from the patient and placing it into a centrifuge that separates the red blood cells from the platelets. This technology yields a high concentration of platelets and white blood cells that is five to seven times normal. Musculoskeletal ultrasound is used to properly identify the area of injury. A local anesthetic is applied to the area followed by PRP injections with ultrasound guidance to ensure that the appropriate target is reached.
What Patients Can Expect After PRP Treatments:
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 Tylenol and apply ice and elevation as needed. Patients will be permitted to resume normal day-to-day activities and light exercise following injection. It is suggested that patients avoid strenuous lifting or high level exercise for at least several days after the injection.
This treatment is not a “quick fix” and is designed to promote long-term healing of the injured tissue. The regeneration of collagen takes four to six months and may require multiple injections. For most cases, one to three injections are required at four to six week intervals. Pain and functional recovery will be assessed two or three weeks after the injection to determine further therapy needs.
Safety of the Treatment:
Research and clinical data show that PRP injections are extremely safe, with minimal risk for any adverse reaction or complication. There is little chance for rejection or allergic reaction because the substance is autologous. The injection carries far less chance for infection than an incision and leaves no scar, and it takes only about 20 minutes, with a considerably shorter recovery time than required after surgery. FBN
Dr. Kevin O’Donnell is a board certified sports medicine physician who specializes in non-surgical orthopaedic treatment options. He specializes in concussion management care and ultrasound guided procedures including joint and soft tissue injections, PRP and Prolotherapy. Flagstaff Bone and Joint 77 W. Forest Ave., Ste. 301 Flagstaff AZ 86001 928-773-2280.
