What is PRP?

PRP is platelet-rich plasmaa non-surgical healing treatment that uses components of your own blood to promote your bodys ability to heal itself. Although PRP is relatively new to orthopedics, it has been used for years in plastic surgery, cardiothoracic surgery and dentistry.

Blood platelets help coordinate repair and regeneration of your bodys soft tissue by releasing powerful healing proteins called growth factors.

PRP is made by drawing blood from the patient, then putting the blood in a machine called a centrifuge. The centrifuge takes several minutes to spin the blood down, separating the platelets from other blood components such as red and white blood cells. This process increases the concentration of platelets up to 1,000%.

After the patients blood is spun down in the centrifuge, PRP is injected into the precise areas of the knee affected by osteoarthritis. There are a couple of techniques to do it, says Robert Zanotti, MD. You can inject into the knee, or sometimes you can actually inject directly into the bony defect.

PRP isnt for someone whos 80 with advanced osteoarthritis. Ideal candidates for PRP are individuals with early-stage knee osteoarthritis who have:

If youve had a knee scoped and cleaned out and were told you have small arthritic spots or OCDsosteochondral defectsyoure probably a good candidate for PRP injections.

PRP is a form of Regenerative Injection Therapy, an emerging treatment approach that helps stimulate the bodys natural healing powers. Inflammation is part of this healing response. PRP helps start the bodys inflammation and tissue regeneration cascade.

Cortisone injections treat arthritis symptoms by getting rid of inflammation in and around the affected joint. PRP aims to address the cause of arthritis; cortisone treats the effect.

Think of early knee arthritis as little potholesnickel- or quarter-sized areas on the bone where the cartilage is wearing out. Those are the areas that have a chance to scar over with PRP treatment.

Read the original post:
Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP) Injections - Center for Orthopedics