As we all know, when one have a bleeding wound, platelets arrive to the wound and create a blood-clot which stops the bleeding. After the bleeding have stopped the platelets start to release growth factors and many other healing factors which begin the healing process. This natural process can be recruited to help heal many injuries using the platelet rich plasma injection which is produced from the patient’s own blood.
Arthrex’s ACP PRP preperation – from right to left
PRP injection can be used in cases of acetabular labral tears, meniscal tears, chondral damage and tendon tears like the gluteus medius hamstrings or patellar tendon tear. In addition, PRP injections have been shown to have high effectivity in treating knees with chondral damage compared to placebo[cite]26831629[/cite] .
The whole PRP injection process takes about 15 minutes. The blood is drawn from the patient, processed in the centrifuge for about 10 minutes and then injected into the target zone. In many cases an ultrasound device is used for a guided injection. A set of 3 injection is indicated and in most cases it will be given once a week. Postoperative PRP injection is given around a week after the surgery when most of the soft tissues have calm down and the healing process has begun, in those cases usually a single injection is indicated.
Generally, the injection effect will be noticed around three weeks after the injection and may apear up to three months after.
Post injection pain is not unusual and in most cases lasts for a couple days. Cold compress or crutches may be used.
Indications for PRP injections:
- Acetabular labral tear
- Meniscus tear (depends on its type)
- Partial rotator cuff tears
- Partial gluteus medius tears
- Partial proximal hamstring tear
- Patellar tendon tendinitis or partial patellar tendon tear
- Iliotibial band syndrome (runners’ knee)
- Joint arthritis
- Tennis elbow
