Platelet Rich Plasma, or PRP, is blood plasma with concentrated platelets & other growth factors. The concentrated platelets found in PRP contain huge reservoirs of bioactive proteins, including growth factors & signalling proteins that are vital to initiate and accelerate tissue repair & regeneration. These growth factors number at least a dozen different factors. These bioactive proteins initiate connective tissue healing in tissues such as meniscus (knee) & rotator cuff tissue, bone & articular cartilage regeneration & repair, promote development of new blood vessels, & stimulate the wound healing process.
The PRP signals the body to send in stem cells to repair the area of injury. PRP injections are sometimes done under fluoroscopic guidance (living X ray). This is done for precise localised delivery of these healing factors into injured ligaments, muscles, and joints.
Platelet Rich Plasma Therapy is a treatment option for various orthopaedic injuries and conditions, which have traditionally required surgery or other extensive treatments. PRP injections are being utilised in orthopaedics with increasing frequency and effectiveness. Injuries currently being treated with the PRP therapy are arthritis of the hip, knee, shoulder, ankle and other joints. PRP also is utilised for soft tissue injuries such as tendonitis, muscle sprains and tears, and various types of ligament injuries. These include common tendon injuries such as tennis and golfers’ elbow, Achilles tendonitis and knee tendonitis. PRP is also used to treat various injuries and conditions affecting (joint) injuries. These include rotator cuff and meniscus injuries. Although PRP technology is considered cutting edge technology, it was initially developed 20 years ago for heart surgery to aid with the wound healing and blood loss. Its benefits are now being applied towards the facilitating of healing muscle, tendons, ligaments, articular and meniscal injuries. In fact, PRP has been widely used in Europe for many years.
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