What is PRP?

Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) is plasma — the clear liquid component of your blood — with a higher concentration of solid platelets. Platelets are the cells that help your blood clot, and they contain hundreds of proteins that are vital to your body’s healing process. Besides healing, these growth factors also promote new cell development.

How does PRP work?

After the initial consultation and lab work, your physician at Star Orthopedics and Sports Medicine determines whether PRP will be a good option for you. Dr. Dold or Dr. Ghattas will draw a small amount of blood and place it in a centrifuge machine to separate the platelets from other blood components.

The doctor then prepares a vial from the platelets and plasma, injecting it precisely in the joint space. The platelets’ growth factors and proteins help with new tissue formation and promote healing.

Although the treatment starts to take action immediately within the body, it may be weeks or months before clinical benefits are visible.

What conditions does PRP treat?

PRP treatment allows for rapid and effective healing of many acute and chronic conditions that have not responded to other traditional solutions. The team of doctors at Star Orthopedics and Sports Medicine use PRP to treat ligament, tendon, or joint injuries at various places in the body, such as:

• Tendon injuries like tennis elbow, ankle tendonitis, or knee pain
• Rotator cuff (shoulder) repair and ligaments
• Back pain
• Knee arthritis
• Plantar fasciitis
• Hip pain and Hamstring injuries
• In moderate arthritis cases, the physicians at Star Orthopedics and Sports Medicine may use PRP therapy to delay or eliminate the need for surgery.

Does PRP treatment have any side effects?

PRP injections come from your blood, so there are no chances of allergic or immune reactions. Complications are extremely rare in this form of therapy, with the only recorded side effect being local infection and pain at the injection site. Your physician will prescribe pain medication if you have significant pain after the procedure.

To learn more about this regenerative treatment option, call or click to schedule an appointment today.