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Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP) is an extract of your own blood that contains a high concentration of platelets within the collected plasma. It is an autologous (patient’s own) treatment to repair or regenerate impaired or non-functional tissue. An injection of PRP to the injured/degenerative tendon or ligament provides regenerative growth factors and essential healing nutrients directly to the target area.
Tendons are flexible, inelastic cords of dense collagen tissue that link muscles to bones. Their role is to transmit muscular forces to bones and enable joint movements. As a result, tendons are in constant use and can absorb significant forces. Repetitive use of a single excessive force event can result in injury, degeneration and reduced tendons function. Chronic tendon conditions can also have associated bursitis.
Ligaments are bands of fibrous connective tissue that connect bones to other bones. Ligaments assist the joint capsule to maintain stability by limiting excessive movement and providing a mechanical reinforcement to the joint. Ligaments can be damaged by injury, and in some joints, will not be able to self repair without surgery(for complete tears or rupture) or assisted healing (for strains, contusion or partial tears). As they are inelastic structures, they can also become permanently lengthened when excessively stretched.
Ligament and tendon injuries affect a wide range of the population including athletes, people who perform repetitive manual tasks and ageing individuals. The most common tendon complaint is tendinopathy, which is often caused by repetitive tendon micro-injuries at sites of strain. Partial or complete tendon tears are usually the result of excessive overload or trauma. Tendon injuries may cause extreme pain and affect joint and muscle function, which can have a significant impact on a person’s work and exercise activities.
In some cases, the partial tears and degenerative changes caused by repetitive micro-injuries do not heal, even after multiple therapies have been used eg: rest, physiotherapy, and medications. Tendons and ligaments struggle to self-heal due to two main causes:
If a damaged or injured tendon fails to heal with rest and physiotherapy, a doctor may recommend a Platelet Rich Plasma(PRP) injection procedure.
PRP works by stimulating the body’s natural healing mechanisms. When tissue is injured, the body responds by sending specific ‘super healer’ cell types to the site of injury to start the repair process. These ‘super healers’ are platelets and once they are injected, release growth factors and bioactive proteins, which act as ‘chemical controllers’ for cellular repair.
Researchers have observed the positive effect of PRP on tendon and ligament tissues. Three main actions have been observed – stimulation of cellular repair, increase in anti-inflammatory processes and growth of blood vessels into the damages area. Collectively these actions lead to a reduction in symptoms and improvement in function.
PRP is a simple procedure, performed as an outpatient with the whole procedure lasting 30 minutes. A blood sample is collected (similar to a regular blood test) and placed into a special, sterile PRP device. After centrifugation, over 90% of the platelets are precisely concentrated into a small volume of plasma, which is then collected for injection into the affected tendon, ligament or muscle – usually under ultrasound guidance to ensure precise placement.
It is always best to discuss the use of any therapy with the treating doctor, as they will be best placed to advise whether PRP may be of benefit to you. PRP is usually recommended when the condition affects daily activities and it has not responded to conservative therapies such as physiotherapy, bracing, massage, dry needling; as a first line treatment for elite athletes; or when patients are sensitive to either NSAID use or corticosteroid injections.
Conditions commonly treated with PRP injections:
• Tendon – acute & chronic injuries, partial tears, tendonitis, tendinosis, tendinopathy, tenosynovitis.
• Ligament – acute & chronic injuries – sprains and small partial tears
• Plantar Fasciitis
• Osteoarthritis
• Stalled healing of muscle injuries
The PRP’s growth factors improve tissue regeneration by stimulating the body’s normal healing response to an injury. However, as the growth factors are highly concentrated, the healing response is amplified, which can create a temporary ‘flare up’ of symptoms for 2-3 days. Because the goal of the PRP procedure is to resolve pain and improve function through tissue regeneration, it takes time for the new cellular components to be formed and mature. Initial improvement may be noticed after a few weeks and the healing response should gradually increase until 6 months.
Not all PRP is Equal
Alocuro’s TGA approved technology collects a ‘pure’ type of PRP, with a high platelet concentration and reduced white blood cells, which has been shown by research studies to provide the best clinical outcomes for chronic tendon pathologies. By comparison, many PRP providers are using low platelet concentration or high white blood cell PRP that may contribute to a variable patient result.
PRP is not a monotherapy – it should be used as one component of a tendon/ligament management program. Best results are gained when patients follow the treating doctor’s recommendations re rest period and specific rehabilitation instructions.
When someone has an injury from sports or another activity, PRP can aid in the healing process. PRP can shorten healing times in these patients for non-surgical injuries like tennis elbow or knee tendonitis. People who want to avoid surgery and have tendon or soft tissue injuries can potentially benefit from PRP injection.
You can suffer some discomfort and bruising at the injection site following the treatment. Compared to other injectable treatments like corticosteroids, the chance of an allergic reaction is far lower with PRP injections because they are formed of your own cells and plasma.
PRP injections can be beneficial for up to nine months, based upon clinical trials. PRP injections last for a specific period of time, but this varies from person to person. Additionally, overall results differ from circumstance to situation.
PRP requires payment from the patient. If there is a refund, we can help you by filing your Medicare claim electronically so that money is automatically transferred to the bank account you specify.
