Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP)

What is Platelet-rich plasma used to treat?

• PRP treatment can help support wound healing in trauma and joint injury. The technique can address male pattern baldness, stimulate the growth of hair transplants and enhance other cosmetic procedures.
• The results of PRP treatment are most noticeable after several weeks for joint injections, and are not always permanent; patients may require additional injections at the direction of their doctor.
• Because the treatments use a patient’s own tissues, PRP injections are safe and can be administered alone or used in conjunction with other procedures.

What is platelet-rich plasma?

Platelet-rich plasma consists of two elements: plasma, or the liquid portion of blood, and platelets, a type of blood cell that plays an important role in healing throughout the body. Platelets are well-known for their clotting abilities, but they also contain growth factors that can trigger cell reproduction and stimulate tissue regeneration or healing in the treated area. Platelet-rich plasma is simply blood that contains more platelets than normal.

To create platelet-rich plasma, clinicians take a blood sample from the patient and place it into a device called a centrifuge that rapidly spins the sample, separating out the other components of the blood from the platelets and concentrating them within the plasma.

What is a PRP injection?

After creating platelet-rich plasma from a patient’s blood sample, that solution is injected into the target area, such as an injured ankle joint or a tendon. In some cases, the clinician may use ultrasound to guide the injection. The idea is to increase the concentration of specific bioproteins or hormones, called growth factors, in a specific area to accelerate the healing process.

The mechanism behind PRP injections is not completely understood. Studies show that the increased concentration of growth factors in platelet-rich plasma may stimulate or speed up the healing process, shortening healing time for injuries, decreasing pain and even encouraging hair growth.

Am I a good candidate for PRP injections?

Your specialist at Kaplansky Foot and Ankle Centers determines if you’re a good candidate for amniotic or PRP injections after a comprehensive examination. These injections are primarily used to treat soft tissue injuries such as plantar fasciitis, bursitis, or tendinitis.

Your specialist may suggest therapeutic injections if conservative treatments like anti-inflammatories, physical therapy, or bracing have failed to improve your symptoms or injury on their own. Additionally, your specialist may recommend these injections in conjunction with conservative management, such as physical therapy, to help you get the most out of your treatment.

What can I expect during PRP injection?

Your therapeutic injections are done as an outpatient procedure and require very little time to complete. You may experience some inflammation and soreness at the site of your injection for the first few days after your treatment. The inflammation is normal and indicates that your body is sending over the healing factors that induce the inflammatory response.  We do often imobilize the foot and ankle and have you walk in a walking boot for 5-10 days.

ArePRP injections safe?

Yes, because PRP is made from a sample of your own blood, it’s considered an autologous procedure, and allergic reactions and side effects are very rare.