PRP – PLATELET RICH PLASMA
PRP has been used for many years in surgical centers around the US and abroad to improve the success of bone grafting and also by cosmetic surgeons for speeding healing time and decreasing the risk of infection after surgery. In the last ten years, doctors have begun injecting PRP apart from surgery for the regeneration of musculoskeletal tissues. Tennis elbow, plantar fasciitis, Achilles tendonitis/tendonosis, rotator cuff tears, meniscal tears, osteoarthritis and chronic low back and neck pain are all being treated with the injection of PRP.
Tubes of a patient’s own blood are placed in a centrifuge for 10 minutes and the platelets, white blood cells, and a small amount of plasma are drawn into a syringe. This 400%-600% concentration of platelets is platelet rich plasma. The area to be treated is injected first with a small amount of mild local anesthetic and then the PRP. Treatments are given every three to six weeks and depending on the severity of the condition, usually two to six treatments are required to achieve the desired result.
