PRP

Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) is a substance containing your concentrated blood, which has healing and regenerative properties. Board-certified orthopaedic surgeon Karl Siebuhr, MD, and Jonathan Kletter, PA-C, at Reconstructive Orthopaedics of Central Florida in Ocala, Florida, use PRP injections for many musculoskeletal injuries and disorders. Call the office or book an appointment online today to learn how you could recover more quickly and fully with PRP.

What is PRP?

Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) is a concentrated mixture of cells from your blood. Injecting PRP into painful areas can relieve acute and chronic pain, helping to accelerate healing in damaged tissues and joints.

Clinical research shows that PRP therapy is beneficial for treating multiple conditions, including:

• Meniscus tears
• Knee, hip, and ligament sprains
• Rotator cuff tears
• Spinal osteoarthritis
• Tendinitis
• Plantar fasciitis
• Tendon and muscle strains
• Tennis elbow (lateral epicondylitis)

The skilled clinicians at Reconstructive Orthopaedics of Central Florida also use PRP to encourage healing after surgery. In addition to PRP injections, they offer HYALGAN® hyaluronic acid and anti-inflammatory cortisone steroid injections.

How does PRP therapy work?

The platelets in your blood make it clot if you injure yourself to stop you from losing too much blood. They also release growth factors that may stimulate a natural immune response.

Macrophages (specialized white blood cells) prepare the damaged cells and tissues for healing. Stem cells and other healing cells that rebuild and repair damaged tissues multiply rapidly in response to the platelets.

This happens every time you suffer an injury, reducing pain and improving strength and function. When you have a PRP injection, the concentrated platelets may increase healing activity, helping to repair tissues that haven’t healed properly or have excessive scarring.

What are the steps involved in PRP therapy?

When you have PRP therapy, you proceed through the following stages:

Platelet collection

Your provider draws a blood sample from you and places it in a centrifuge device. The centrifuge spins the blood at high speeds so it separates into plasma (the liquid), red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets.

Injection

Your provider mixes enough plasma with the concentrated platelets to produce an injectable fluid. They then inject this platelet-rich mixture into the injured area. You won’t notice much difference to begin with, as it takes a while for the growth factors to do their work. However, you may experience pain reduction and improved function after several weeks.

PRP injections are outpatient procedures, so you can return home on your treatment day. You might need three to four treatments before the injury repairs properly — it’s also vital to follow your provider’s advice on rest and physical therapy during healing.

Call Reconstructive Orthopaedics of Central Florida to learn how PRP can benefit you, or book an appointment online today.