Let’s make this one quick and easy. Some blogs, we may hit with you great details, information rich in scientific data and opinions full of medical jargon. Today, let’s share some simple information regarding why platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injections should be on your radar if you have OSTEOARTHRITIS, TENNIS OR GOLFER’S ELBOW, ACHILLES TENDONOSIS, PLANTAR FASCIITIS, LATERAL HIP, PATELLAR AND ROTATOR CUFF TENDONOSIS, just to name a few.
1) Most of the time, it works: let’s be real, nothing in medicine works all of the time. If we see a significant benefit in 75% of patients or more, then we are all pretty happy with a treatment. In our patient population, PRP meets this criteria.
2) Most medical studies suggest a clinically significant benefit: do a “pub med” search for PRP as it relates to orthopedic conditions. Although some studies always will be too small or of lower quality, once you start to pool the data, you find that PRP is not really “experimental” any more. There are now hundreds of studies looking at patients receiving PRP for arthritis and chronic tendon problems, and the majority of these studies demonstrate a clinically significant benefit with PRP.
3) It’s both natural and safe: PRP is derived from your own blood. It’s designed to concentrate your platelets that contain your growth factors. These growth factors have many positive effects, ranging from inflammation reduction to slowing down the deterioration process within a tendon or joint. Major side effects are extremely rare, and when compared to steroid injections, prescription medications and surgical intervention, PRP is a safer treatment option with fewer adverse effects.
4) It’s a relatively quick office procedure: 5 minutes to set-up and draw the blood, 5 minutes to transfer the blood to the centrifuge system, 10 minutes to spin the blood, 3 minutes to further separate the blood components and capture the PRP, 2 minutes to prep the patient, and 1 minute to give the injection. In some instances, we may first inject a numbing medication (anesthetic) and then give that 10 minutes to work. So, in total, 36 minutes for this procedure done in the office, all in one sitting.
5) Although typically not covered by insurance, it’s likely a wise investment in your health and may save you money in the long run: the days of insurance always covering the best and most innovative procedures for orthopedic conditions are over. If PRP works for you like we expect it to, then you will potentially save money on doctor’s visits, medications, physical therapy, surgical interventions and other treatments. Not to mention that if you have not yet met your deductible, you will pay out-of-pocket for all of the other treatments “covered by insurance” that may be less effective than PRP.
In an nutshell, PRP is not for everyone and every orthopedic condition. We carefully select those patients who we think can “win the battle” with their orthopedic condition with one or more PRP injections. 20+ years of experience in sports medicine and orthopedics and 10+ years utilizing PRP have given us the knowledge to determine what patients may truly benefit from PRP injections. Come see us if you are curious!
F. Clarke Holmes, M.D.
Impact Sports Medicine and Orthopedics
