We regularly inquire about this procedure for the treatment of knee pain. Here is a summary of our approach and current research.

First, you should try more conservative care before considering PRP for knee pain. Such conservative care includes


exercise, medication, distraction knee manipulation, steroid injections, acupuncture, low-level lasers, weight loss, glucosamine supplements, and knee braces. If these options do not relieve pain, you may be a candidate for PRP.


PRP: What is this?

PRP is the center of platelet-rich plasma proteins released from whole blood and is centrifuged to remove blood cells. Higher levels of growth factors and cytokines than whole blood. PRP has been used to promote rapid therapeutic responses across many disciplines. This includes plastic surgery, dentistry, orthopedics, and dermatology. In our practice, we use PRP for knee pain. PRP is plasma and contains many platelets commonly found in the blood. Platelet levels (and therefore growth factor levels) can be 5 to 10 times higher (or more concentrated) than normal. This may result in faster healing and less pain.


What are the steps to manage PRP?

PRP involves taking blood, spinning it in a centrifuge, and injecting platelet-rich plasma from your blood into your knees. All this is done during a single office visit. The total time is about 45 minutes.


There are several current studies on the success of PRP.

In a comparative study of hyaluronic acid (also known as castor cone) and PRP, patients received either treatment. Although both groups improved, the PRP group gave better results. Ultrasound of the knee showed synovial hypertrophy and reduced inflammation in the PRP group. The knee was injected 3 times at 2-week intervals (Int JRheumDis. 2018May; 21 (5): 960–966).

Published data on the side effects of PRP report few problems other than knee pain. The risk of allergic reactions is minimized due to the use of unique platelets. Current observations suggest that PRP is an effective intervention in the treatment of osteoarthritis of the knee without increasing the risk of adverse events (Int JRumDis. 2017Nov; 20 (11): 1612-1630. ).

Early osteoarthritis of the knee can be treated with a single injection instead of 3, with the potential for positive results (Joints, 2017 Jun 5; 5 (1): 2-6). We treated a few patients who were able to treat knee pain with seizures instead of the standard three.

Platelet-rich plasma treatment improves pain, stiffness, and disability in patients with osteoarthritis of the knee compared to conventional saline treatment. Additional strength training is recommended to increase strength (Am J Phys Med Rehabilitation 2018 Apr; 97 (4): 248-254). We have found that including exercise in PRP treatment has positive results.

In the study, the rate of relaxation between responses was seen in the PRP group (72.7%) rather than in the HA group (45.8%), with similar results in our firm, with an estimated 70-75% of patients reporting PRP. doing. Will be treated. "From good to good" relief (arthroscopy. May 2018; 34; (5): 1530-1540).

According to another article published in the American Journal of Sports Medicine in 2013, PRP injections helped reduce the pain of osteoarthritis of the knee compared to saline injections.

Famous athletes such as Tiger Woods and tennis star Rafael Nadal are receiving PRPs on a variety of issues.


Reference: By Richard Bechert