| Regenerating a Degenerated Body |
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Platelet Rich Plasma or PRP is an elegant healing treatment created when blood from the patient is spun down in a centrifuge and the concentrate of growth factor rich platelets is isolated. Then, the growth factors are injected into the injured area under ultrasound guidance to carefully guide the needle into the torn or injured tissue.
Over the next 4-6 weeks the injured area begins to heal and regenerate the injured and damaged tissue. PRP has been used safely in musculoskeletal medicine as early as the 1990's, and since the 1980's in surgical and dental procedures. During the last 9 years, PRP has been used successfully in musculoskeletal medicine to treat tendon and ligament injuries that have failed to heal, tendonosis, acute and chronic muscle strain, ligament sprains, intra-articular injuries and joint pain such as arthritis and knee meniscus damage. "It’s a better option for problems that don’t have a great solution — it’s nonsurgical and uses the body’s own cells to help it heal,” said Dr. Allan Mishra, an assistant professor of orthopedics at Stanford University Medical Center and one of the primary researchers in the field. “I think it’s fair to say that platelet-rich plasma has the potential to revolutionize not just sports medicine but all of orthopedics. It needs a lot more study, but we are obligated to pursue this.” Because the blood is autologous, or from the patient's own body, PRP is very safe with no risk of rejection, injury or allergic reaction. In contrast to surgery there is no scar, quicker healing, and very little chance of infection. The procedure is performed in the office and takes about 20 minutes. Typically 1-2 injections about 4 weeks apart are necessary to heal most injuries. Learn more: Article from Jan/Feb 2008 Practical Pain Management Journal "Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) Matrix Grafts" by David Crane, MD and Peter A.M. Everts, PhD PDF file about 2MB in size Links to news clips on athletes receiving PRP PRP on LA Dodgers pitcher Saito PRP on Stanford football player on ABC News PRP on CBS News PRP Pittsburgh Steelers PRP in New York Times |
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