Some insurers still consider a treatment for tendon damage experimental, but the results it’s providing are anything but speculative. That treatment, with Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP) is quickly becoming a standard of care for people with tennis elbow, patellar tendonitis or injured hips and ankles.
With it, a patient’s own blood is taken, processed to separate blood platelets that speed healing from the rest of cells. The platelets are then injected into the problem area, often leading to quicker recovery times.
“A lot of people have heard about PRP by reading the sports pages ““ some of the top athletes have turned to it for nagging injuries,” explains Dr. Matthew T. DesJardins, a physician with OrthoCincy. He’s been using PRP to treat patients for six years.
“Tendon injuries are generally slow-healing because they have poor blood flow. You need a good blood flow for healing, so tendon problems can go on and on and on,” he explains. “What PRP does, when injected around the afflicted area is bring those blood cells to the healing process which otherwise are in short supply.”
DesJardins points to a success rate of around 75 percent for his patients.
What to expect
Once referred to OrthoCincy, patents will meet with a doctor who reviews x-rays and ultrasound images to determine if they are a candidate for PRP. If they are, the in-office procedure will be scheduled as soon as possible. At that appointment, a small amount of blood will be drawn.
“It’s not much, just a single large tube. The same as if you were having blood drawn for cholesterol levels or a blood panel,” DesJardins says. That blood is put into a centrifuge which separates out plasma, a process that takes from 20-30 minutes. The result is no more than a teaspoon of the platelet-rich plasma.
Using ultrasound, the doctor will prepare the injection site with a series of painless needle pricks to the afflicted tendon and then inject the PRP directly into the area. The plasma begins working within minutes, DesJardins says. Post-procedure pain can be expected for a week or two, with healing completed with 5-6 weeks ““ much faster than earlier treatments can promise.
Because some insurers still consider PRP an experimental procedure, patients often use health savings accounts to pay for treatment. But, as DesJardins points out, PRP is extremely cost-effective, especially when compared to slower results from physical therapy and other medical treatments.
Background
Despite that “experimental” tag from insurers, PRP has been around for a while.
Developed in the 1970’s, its use didn’t become widespread until almost 20 years later. The most common use is as a healing agent sprayed into surgical incision areas before closing. In recent years, it’s also been employed in dental procedures, cosmetic surgery and pain management, along with sports medicine.
“It’s been around for years,” says DesJardins. “It’s the next step in a line of research that includes the use of stem cells, but stem cells are much harder to harvest. PRP is easier “” just draw a little blood, but the results have been very positive.”
