It’s been almost two decades since Tiger Woods first received platelet-rich plasma to hasten healing after ACL surgery. That news started a revolution in orthopedic practice. The public wanted access to the same treatment as major league athletes to expedite the healing of orthopedic injuries.
Many soft tissue injuries take weeks or months to heal. PRP treatment that advances that healing is on its way to becoming one of several standard treatments, although more research needs to be done on several factors to yield definitive effectiveness for certain injuries.
Our board-certified orthopedic surgeon, Dr. Jonathan Shults, with Coastal Empire Orthopedics, uses platelet-rich plasma (PRP) to promote faster healing in soft tissue, bones, and joints.
Your blood contains plasma, a liquid that carries oxygen and other life-giving nutrients throughout your body, as well as red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets. The platelets are tiny pieces of cells that help your blood clot after a cut or surgical incision. Just like first responders, they rush to the site of the accident (in this case, a wound).
Your platelets contain wound-healing elements called growth factors. Scientists have found that amassing a large concentration of your platelets and injecting them at the site of an injury can speed up healing in many cases. PRP includes anywhere from 2 to 8 times the normal number of platelets in your blood.
Growth factors are proteins that have specific functions in tissue repair. They help rush cells to the site of your wound, help grow new healthy cells, and create new blood vessels.
Several types of growth factors are involved in helping heal damage to your body. Platelet-derived growth factors (PDGF) play key roles in wound healing by leading cells to the site of your injury and stimulating new bone protein. Transforming growth factors help to reduce inflammation by inhibiting T-cell reproduction. Vascular endothelial growth factors help create new blood vessels, essential for healing, as they bring oxygen and key nutrients to the site. Epidermal growth factors help repair your skin.
Getting a PRP treatment is easy. Our staff draws a sample of your blood. We place it in a centrifuge machine that gathers a large mass of your platelets. We inject this platelet-rich blood at the target site.
PRP is especially helpful in healing soft tissue injuries and conditions: tendonitis, muscle strains, and ligament tears. Studies have shown its effectiveness in healing tennis elbow and golfer’s elbow. It’s helped patients with mild to moderate osteoarthritis of the knee.
PRP reduces swelling and inflammation, decreasing pain and allowing faster healing. It’s a minimally invasive treatment.
Furthermore, PRP is an all-natural treatment. It uses your own blood, and it’s drug-free.
PRP helps many patients, but it’s not effective for all. Dr. Shults can tell you if you’re a good candidate for PRP.
For all your orthopedic concerns, call Coastal Empire Orthopedics or book an appointment through our online portal.
