Platelet-rich plasma is part of a series of treatments that are available in orthopaedics, known as orthobiologics. The term orthobiologics refers to substances that are naturally present in the human body and are thought to be able to stimulate healing of bone, tendon, muscle and cartilage. Commonly used orthobiologics include platelet-rich plasma, stem cells and grafts/scaffolds. These treatments are all part of a new emerging and promising branch, called Regenerative Medicine.
Plateles derives from the patient’s own blood. Treatment essentially consists in injecting blood plasma with concentrated platelets. Platelets contain in great quantity growth factors that are crucial for initiating the tissue repair and regeneration process.
A small quantity of blood (10ml) will be taken from you from a vein in your arm. This blood is placed in a tube that is transferred to a machine called centrifuge, that spins it and separates the different blood components. The surgeon will then extract the platelet-rich plasma, mix it with local anaesthetic and inject it in the area of injury under ultrasound guidance. This injection has a much higher concentration of growth factors (5 times more). By having such an injection, we aim to stimulate your body’s ability to heal itself. The whole process takes about 15 minutes, has minimal risks and causes minimal pain.
Current indications include the following:
• Lateral epicondylitis or tennis elbow
• Rotator cuff tendinopathy/tears
• Patellar tendinopathy
• Achilles tendinopathy/rupture
• Knee cartilage defects and osteoarthritis
• Plantar fasciitis
• Muscle injuries (sprains or tears)
• As an adjuvant during surgery (surgical augmentation) for rotator cuff repairs, achilles repairs, ligament repairs, etc.
Multiple studies have been performed to assess the efficacy of these injections for a multitude of conditions. Results are encouraging, but definitive recommendations cannot be made at this stage. The strongest data exist for use in the treatment of tennis elbow and are very promising. This injection is not a solution for everything and there many situations in which is use is not justified. Dr Panagopoulos believes the in the right patient and for the right condition, this treatment can relieve symptoms, help with tissue healing, and delay or eliminate the need for surgery.
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