Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP)

“In recent years, doctors have learned that the body has the ability to heal itself.”

What Conditions are treated with PRP

Platelet-rich plasma injections can be used to treat such degenerative conditions as osteoarthritis, as well as tendon, ligament, and muscle injuries.

Some of the specific conditions that doctors use PRP injections to treat—or use as a supplement to another treatment, such as physical therapy—include the following:

  • Chronic ligament or tendon injuries

  • Golfer’s elbow and tennis elbow

  • Osteoarthritis of the hip, knee, or shoulder joints

  • Rotator cuff injuries

  • Injuries of the cartilage, ligaments and tendons

What Exactly is PRP?

Blood is made up of four main parts: plasma, red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets. Plasma is the liquid part of blood, mostly made of water. Red blood cells carry oxygen, white blood cells help fight infections and heal injuries, and platelets are tiny cell fragments that help blood clot. Platelets act like first responders when you get injured. They go to the injury site, activate, and release special substances that help repair damaged tissue.

PRP (platelet-rich plasma) therapy uses your own blood to speed up healing. It’s made from plasma and a concentrated amount of platelets. PRP is injected into the injured area, delivering these platelets, along with growth factors and other healing proteins, to promote recovery.

To make PRP, your doctor draws a small amount of blood and spins it in a machine called a centrifuge. This process separates the red blood cells from the plasma and platelets. The red blood cells are removed, leaving a mixture of plasma and highly concentrated platelets. This PRP has 3-5 times more platelets than regular blood and also includes white blood cells, which aid in healing.

Do PRP injections have side effects or risks?

The side effects of PRP injections are very limited because the injections are created from your own blood, and your body should not reject them or react in any negative way. As with any injection, there is a remote risk of infection. Otherwise, there are no significant risks apart from the variability and unpredictability of how effective the treatment will be for a particular patient.