14 Jun Am I a Candidate for PRP Injections?
What are PRP Injections?
Platelet-rich plasma injections use a patient’s own platelets in an attempt to accelerate healing. Platelet-rich plasma has nearly five to ten times more platelets than what is normally in the blood. Platelets contain proteins known as growth factors, which are crucial in healing injuries.
How do PRP Injections work?
A patient’s blood will be drawn and placed in a centrifuge, where it is spun at incredibly high speeds, to concentrate and extract one’s platelets. The platelets are then injected directly into the injured area along with a local anesthetic. Pain and swelling are to be expected initially following the injection, however, patients will typically begin to see results within a few weeks.
Are there any side-effects to PRP therapy?
There are typically no negative side-effects to PRP injections because the therapy utilizes a patient’s own blood. For this reason, it is extremely rare for an allergy or immune related reaction to occur. The main side-effects include pain and soreness at the injection site.
What can be treated with PRP?
- Tendon injuries: including, but not limiting those of the achilles tendon, elbow tendons, rotator cuff, and hamstring tendons
- Ligament injuries
- Muscles strain injuries
- Arthritis: specifically in the knee or shoulder
- Fractures
- Surgery
Although PRP is more widely-known to treat soft tissue injuries, research has shown that the injections can be effective in promoting healing following surgery and in certain fractures.
How can PRP be used to treat fractures?
Research has shown that PRP can be especially helpful in treating non-union bone fractures. A non-union bone fracture is when a fractured bone does not heal after a long period of time. In some cases, fractures may show no sign of healing following surgery. When treatment measures fail, PRP can be used to accelerate fracture healing. When injected into fracture sites, PRP has been shown to increase bone density, allowing for bone regeneration and recovery in a shorter period of time than usual.
Contact our team
Our team at New York Sports Medicine Institute can provide you with a treatment plan and help determine if you are a candidate for PRP injections. If you suspect that you might benefit from the injections, do not hesitate to contact our team today.