PRP Platelet Rich Plasma

Tendons connect muscle to bone and ligaments connect bone to bone. We need these tendons and ligaments to maintain healthy, pain free movement. Tendons and ligaments can become torn and or worn down, leading to pain and physical dysfunction. PRP is an injection of platelets (which have a high concentration of growth factors) into a muscle, tendon or ligament tear to help the body start the natural healing.

How does PRP work? 

The blood is made up of many different parts:  White blood cells, Red blood cells and Platelets.  Platelets can release multiple Growth Factors that can help recruit your natural healing response to help enhance tissue regeneration and heal the damaged tendon, ligament and muscle.

PRP is a procedure, which is done in our office under MSK (musculoskeletal Ultrasound) guidance.  First the damaged tissue is visualized under real-time ultrasound. Then a small amount of blood is taken from the patient. The blood is then made to spin in a specially designed centrifuge. The platelets and the white blood cells are then separated from the red blood cells and plasma. The platelets are then resuspended in a small amount of plasma. The concentration of platelets obtained is usually 500 times greater concentration of platelets in the blood.   Finally, the platelets are injected directly into the tissue tear under real-time ultrasound guidance.  The procedure is usually painless as the area is made numb with the use of local anesthetics.

Who has done this PRP?

It has been used with the NFL Pittsburgh Steelers, Super Bowl XLIII, Los Angeles Dodgers, Rutgers college, New York Mets, Mayo Clinic, Cleveland Clinic

Patients should try to be off NSAIDS, (Ibuprofen, Naprosyn, etc.)  For about 1 week before the PRP injection. You can take Tylenol if you need. 

You can potentially treat any part of the body that has a (muscle, tendon, and ligament) tear with PRP.  Some examples;  shoulder pain, Rotator cuff tear, shoulder  osteoarthritis, knee pain, knee osteoarthritis, knee tendon tears,  knee meniscus tear, food pain, plantar fasciitis, hip pain, hip osteoarthritis, lower back pain.

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