What is PRP?
Platelet‐rich plasma consists of two elements: plasma, or the liquid portion of blood, and platelets, a type of blood cell that plays an important role in healing throughout the body. Platelets are well‐known for their clotting abilities, but they also contain growth factors that can trigger cell reproduction and stimulate tissue regeneration or healing in the treated area. Platelet‐rich plasma is simply blood that contains more platelets than normal‐‐10 times the normal concentration of platelets. To create platelet‐rich plasma, clinicians take a blood sample from the patient and place it into a device called a centrifuge that rapidly spins the sample, separating out the other components of the blood from the platelets and concentrating them within the plasma.
How is the injection performed?
PRP injections can be prepared and administered on an outpatient basis in our office. When you first arrive, a sample of your blood is taken, then staff will prepare the injection for the medical provider. The patient will sit or lay down depending on area being treated. The skin is cleansed with an antiseptic solution. The skin and deeper tissues are numbed by Dr. Esposito with an anesthetic using a small needle and once the skin is numb, an X‐ray machine helps guide the needle into the correct area. Then X‐ray contrast is injected to ensure correct location of the needle. Then the PRP is injected. The procedure takes approximately 30 minutes, due to preparation of injection.
Will the injection hurt?
There is some temporary discomfort with needle insertion which we minimize by numbing the skin with a local anesthetic.
What does it treat?
PRP injections treat a range of musculoskeletal injuries like tendon, ligament, muscle and joint injuries, like tennis elbow or chronic knee or hip pain, due to osteoarthritis. Adding PRP shots to a treatment regimen can help to stimulate the healing process, decrease pain and enable increase of activities tolerance. PRP injections may help treat osteoarthritis pain and stiffness by modulating the joint environment and reducing inflammation, but research in this field is still growing. PRP injections have also proven to be effective when treating muscle injuries. We recommend 2‐3 injections spaced 3‐4 weeks apart.
What is the next step after the injection?
It is important for you to log your pain and activity level before and after your treatment and over the weeks to come, so you can see how it is working for you.
What are the risks and side effects?
A PRP injection is a low‐risk procedure and does not usually cause major side effects. The procedure involves a blood draw, so you should make sure you are hydrated and have eaten beforehand to prevent feeling lightheaded. After the procedure, you may experience some soreness and bruising at the injection site.
Because PRP injections are made up of your own cells and plasma, the risk of an allergic reaction is much lower than with other injectable medications. With any injection, there could be risk of bleeding or nerve injury, but these are quite rare. These complications are minimized by stopping blood thinners, using sterile technique, and fluoroscopy for x‐ray needle guidance.
