New treatment with PRP injectable autologous activated platelets can effectively treat orthopedic problems in joints such as shoulder, elbow, hip, knee and ankle
Written by Papadopoulos George - Orthopedic Surgeon
Treatment with injectable autologous activated platelets PRP is the most modern and widespread biological treatment to accelerate the healing of muscles, tendons and ligaments after traumatic and degenerative lesions.
The method is based on the ability of the human body to heal by its own means. Platelets are cells in our body that are involved in blood clotting. When activated, they release healing proteins, growth factors, which act synergistically, thereby accelerating damage repair.
WHAT IS PRP?
Blood is made up of red blood cells, white blood cells, plasma, [or otherwise blood serum], and platelets.
(PRP) has been named the 'platelet' of high-platelet plasma that contains huge doses of bioenergetic proteins, such as growth factors, that are important in repairing and regenerating tissues. [a blood sample contains only 6% platelets, while PRP contains 94% platelets with a concentration of growth factors 5 - 10 times more than normal blood, with healing properties].
WHAT IS PRP TREATMENT
Treatment with is a safe, effective and completely natural way to treat injuries, [lesions], soft tissues, [such as tendons, ligaments, muscles], and damaged joints, in order to repair the damage quickly and effectively and to cure chronic pain. This is achieved by the body itself, promoting and accelerating natural healing.
It has been used for about 20 years in multiple medical fields, but especially in the orthopedic specialty. Medical research and diligent studies have confirmed the benefits and effectiveness of the method, [Center for Pediatric and Adolescent Sports Medicine at New York-Presbyterian Morgan Stanley Children's Hospital. North Carolina, Pittsburgh].
Used? INDICATIONS.
It is one of the most promising treatments of reconstructive surgery for soft tissue injuries, it has become very popular as an alternative to surgery.
It began to be used in professional, high-performance athletes, but the indications have been extended to all people regardless of their age, activity or general condition, since no one should live with pain.
This new treatment can be used to treat a number of acute or chronic lesions containing the following:
RAW Some ruptures of the myotendinous sheath, [rottator cuff diseases], biceps tendonitis, osteoarthritis of the shoulder, coracoitis.
KNEE. Osteoarthritis, lateral ligament ruptures, patellofemoral arthritis, patellar tendonitis, quadriceps tendonitis, Pellegrini Stieda disease, goose foot tendonitis, Osgood Shlatter disease, Johan's disease.
HIP. Osteoarthritis of the hip, trochanteritis, opioid syndrome.
HOSPITAL Arthritis, peroneal tendonitis, posterior tibial tendonitis
FOOT TIME Intestinal diseases, such as plantar fasciitis, [heel spur], posterior tibial, third peroneal tendonitis, etc.
ACHILLEOS TENDONTIDA. It has an absolute indication [and very good results], because the aforementioned has a long recovery period and is very difficult to treat.
MUSCLE FRACTURES
HOW IS IT GRANTED AND WHAT TIME DOES IT REQUIRE? IT IS DANGEROUS?
PRP treatment is simple and safe in a private practice.
It takes about an hour including preparation and recovery time. In fact, most people go back to work, or their daily routine right after the procedure.
It starts with taking a blood sample from the patient, from 9 to 18 ml, [like the procedure for taking blood for microbiological tests]. The bite after being placed in a special vial using centrifugation separates the plateled-rich plasma from the rest of the blood.
Finally the doctor injects PRP at the site of the lesion.
[Platelets function as a natural reservoir for growth factors that are essential to repair injured tissues. The growth factors that secrete platelets stimulate tissue recovery by increasing collagen production, enhancing tendon stem cell proliferation, and tenocyte-related gene and protein expression. These growth factors also stimulate blood flow and cause cartilage to become more firm and resilient. PRP activates tenocytes to proliferate quickly and produce collagen to repair injured tendons, ligaments, cartilage, and muscles]
There is no risk of allergy, as 'part' of the patient's own blood is injected, and the general risks that may be present are the same as those of an intraarticular saline infusion.
IS IT PAINFUL? THERE ARE IMMEDIATE RESULTS FROM PRP TREATMENT
Some patients report mild swelling, stiffness, and mild to moderate pain that may last for several hours after injection. This is a normal reaction of the body and an indication that the injection was given at the right place, [damage]. Over time the pain will decrease and the functional capacity will improve. Because it is not a painkiller or anti-inflammatory drug, but an autologous agent that promotes and accelerates healing, the improvement of the clinical picture [reduction of pain, easier and painless movement, etc.] appears over time. time more and more. The patient notices a gradual improvement 2-6 weeks after treatment. The effect of the infusion lasts 4-6 weeks later. This is a treatment for soft tissue damage.
IS PRP TREATMENT A SUBSTITUTE OF SURGERY? HOW DOES IT WORK THEORETICALLY?
While many chronic conditions can respond to PRP treatment by making surgery unnecessary, it is impossible to predict which patient and which pathology will respond positively and when it will fail.
A chronic incurable condition is characterized by abnormal fibrous tissue inside the tendons or ligaments. This leads to malfunction of the joints, or leaves the tendon or ligament vulnerable to new damage or complete rupture. Thus, the healing process stops due to the poor perspiration at the site of the lesion. Most tendons have poor perfusion and often have tiny ruptures and chronic scars. The human body has great difficulty in self-healing these situations. PRP begins its action by making the body consider the chronic condition [which does not react] as a new damage and thus cause its reaction to heal itself. The new cure response is growing exponentially, [much stronger and more intense], due to the highly concentrated healing agents contained in PRP
Thus a positive result can lead to a reduction in surgical rehabilitation.
HOW MANY TIMES SHOULD PRP TREATMENT BE DONE
Remedial medicine is not an 'immediate solution' and was designed to cure long-term tissue damage. While in some patients a single injection is sufficient, collagen regeneration takes 4-6 months and may require 2 or even 3 injections. Pain and functional rehabilitation will be assessed 2 to 3 weeks after PRP treatment and it will be decided if further treatment is needed. The total number of treatments will depend on factors such as age, the anatomical location of the pain, the intensity of the pain before treatment, etc.
Unfortunately, there are no standard, prospective, double-blind clinical trials that validate PRP treatment, which is why some insurance companies do not cover this treatment.
CAUTION It is recommended to avoid PRP treatment in patients receiving anti-inflammatory [should stop for at least 10 days before]. There will be no side effects just the therapeutic effect of the treatment is reduced. Co-administration with any type of cortisone is not recommended. It is recommended to avoid co-administration with local anesthetics. Co-administration with hyaluronic acid is not contraindicated [p. x. in osteoarthritis of the knee].
Article
George Papadopoulos, Orthopedic Surgeon
Former Director of the Orthopedic Clinic G.N.L.
Postgraduate in: NOC UFFIELD] OXFORD ENGLAND
IOR RIZZOLI BOLOGNA ITALY
ATOS CLINIC HEIDELBERG GERMANY
Phone: + 357 99617712
SANTA MARINA POLYCLINIC, Telephone: 23811999