Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP)

Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP) is an exciting technological breakthrough in Orthopedic Medicine.  Autologous Blood (the patient's own) is drawn and centrifuged.  This separates the red blood cells and watery plasma, leaving a concentrate of platelets, white blood cells and tiny stem cells.

The concentrate is then injected into injured body areas, helping to accelerate the healing response.  This occurs because the platelets and stem cells, when activated, release several powerful growth factors that are responsible for healing tissue.  The therapeutic advantage of PRP lies in the fact that, at a supraphysiologic level, this concentration does not occur naturally.  The amplification effect of the growth factors in Platelet-Rich Plasma essentially turbocharges our body's healing process.

There are no adverse effects of PRP, as it is the patient's own blood, so it cannot be rejected or cause harm.  The only occasional complaint is mild soreness after the procedure, which can be managed with Tylenol.  Most patients are not bothered by this soreness since the area was already injured, hence the need for the Platelet-Rich Plasma procedure.

Platelet-Rich Plasma has received recent press as elite athletes are turning to the procedure as a means to accelerate recovery time from injuries.  Prior to Super Bowl XLIII, two Pittsburg Steeler players, Hines Ward and Troy Polamalu, were nursing injuries.  Both turned to PRP and played exceptionally in their win over the Arizona Cardinals, despite Kurt Warner's valiant efforts (Warner has also been treated with PRP after surgery).  Tiger Woods, the famed golfer, received PRP after his knee surgery, and twice for Chronic Achilles Tendonitis.  Denver Nuggets basketball star Kenyon Martin swears by Platelet-Rich Plasma, after it aided in healing his ailing left knee.  Alex Rodriguez, of the New York Yankees, received PRP after hip surgery and made a swift recovery.  The tennis pro, Rafael Nadal, and Dodger's pitcher Takashi Saito, have each received PRP.

PRP is not just for elite athletes, however with their careers on the line they would not resort to ineffective treatments.  Cutting-edge sports medicine techniques usually start with athletes and then transcend to the everyday person with aches and pains.  Studies indicate that PRP has helped both men and women with acute and chronic injuries to muscle, tendon, ligaments, cartilage and even bone.  Spinal Pars fractures have been healed with platelet-rich plasma.  Avascular Necrosis (AVN) is essentially an injured bone segment that erodes and usually requires joint replacement.  Bo Jackson's football career with the Los Angeles Raiders was ended when he developed AVN of the hip, resulting in a total hip replacement.  PRP is now being used to heal AVN without surgery. 

Platet-Rich Plasma has been used, not only in acute knee injuries such as meniscal tears and sprains, but also in chronic Degenerative and Rheumatoid arthritis.  Shoulder problems, such as impingement and rotator cuff tears, can be treated with PRP as well.  PRP is even being used to re-grow hair for baldness and is used in Veterinary Medicine as well.

PRP Frequently Asked Questions
 

If you have a persistent musculoskeletal problem and would like to avoid surgery (especially spinal surgery or joint replacement) or you are an avid sportsmen or elite athlete desiring rapid recovery time from an injury, contact Dr. Dennis Lox for a consultation at 800-301-5499.