Platelet-rich plasma is derived by placing a small amount of the patient’s blood in a filtration system or centrifuge. It is then rotated at a high speed, separating red blood cells from the platelets that release proteins and other particles involved in the body’s self-healing process. A teaspoon or two of the remaining substance is then injected into the damaged area. The high concentration of platelets — from 3 to 10 times that of normal blood — often catalyzes the growth of new soft tissue or bone cells. Because the substance is injected where blood would rarely go, it can deliver the healing instincts of platelets without triggering the clotting response, for which platelets are typically known.
+++
The 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. Many doctors agree that this technique appears to help regenerate ligament and tendon fibers, which could shorten rehabilitation time and possibly obviate surgery.
+++
Research into the effects of platelet-rich plasma therapy has accelerated in recent months, with most doctors cautioning that more rigorous studies are necessary before the therapy can emerge as scientifically proven. However, many researchers suspect that the procedure could become an increasingly attractive course of treatment for reasons medical and financial.

We’ve been working hard over the last few years to create a platelet rich plasma (PRP) that’s more chondrogenic or cartilage producing. Since PRP contains many healing growth factors and some of these (like TGF-beta) are known to help cartilage repair, all PRP has some ability to help cartilage heal. The problem is that all of the growth factors may have some working in that direction  while a few others work in different directions. In addition, recent research shows that RBC’s or red blood cells and white blood cell rich PRP may actually cause joint stem cells to produce chemicals that can breakdown cartilage. We know that our PureSC PRP (Pure Super Concentrated PRP) procedure helps stem cells to produce cartilage because the science is behind us on this as well as hundreds of patients who have used PureSC PRP and achieved success in healing joint pain from cartilage damage.

PRP injections can be performed in tendons and ligaments all over the body. Sports injuries, arthritic joints, lower back, degenerative disc disease and more specific injuries including tennis elbow, carpal tunnel syndrome, ACL tears, shin splints, rotator cuff tears, plantar fasciitis and iliotibial band syndrome may all be effectively treated with PRP.

The needle is observed by the ultrasound as it goes into the targeted area. The ultrasound has the ability to show areas that are up to one tenth of a millimeter in size, which makes it easier to see soft tissue, tendons, ligaments, joint’s, cartilage, nerves and bone.
+++
You will benefit from the accuracy ultrasound can provide. Regardless of what type of injections you are receiving, the ultrasound dramatically increases the accuracy of the needle targeting the damaged area when performing PRP.  Without the ultrasound, the needle may not hit the intended spot. However, with the ultrasound, your injections will produce better results when performing PRP on various area’s on the body.

Because the object of PRP therapy is to resolve pain through healing, it could prove to have lasting results. Initial improvement may be seen within a few weeks, gradually increasing as the healing progresses. Research studies and clinical practice have shown PRP therapy to be very effective at relieving pain and returning patients to their normal lives. Both ultrasound and MRI images have shown definitive tissue repair after PRP therapy, confirming the healing process. The need for surgery can also be greatly reduced by treating injured tissues before the damage progresses and the condition becomes irreversible.

PRP therapy takes approximately one to two hours, including preparation and recovery time. Performed safely in a medical office, PRP therapy relieves pain without the risks of surgery, general anesthesia, or hospital stays and without a prolonged recovery. In fact, most people return to their job or usual activity just after the procedure.

There is little chance for rejection or allergic reaction because the substance is autologous, meaning it comes from the patient’s own body; 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 after surgery.
+++
Because of those apparent benefits, the consensus among doctors is that the procedure is worth pursuing. However, several doctors emphasized that platelet-rich plasma therapy as it stands now appeared ineffective in about 20 to 40 percent of cases, depending on the injury. But they added that because the procedure costs a fraction of the costs incurred for surgery — they expected that with more refinement, insurance companies would eventually not only authorize the use of PRP therapy but even require it as a first course of treatment.

You may view more videos about PRP in our video library.