Platelet Rich Plasma Treatment (PRP)
Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) therapy applies the use of platelets, found in the patient’s blood, to heal tissue damage and create a new blood supply to the inflamed joints. PRP contains over 30 growth factors that stimulate healing of the deteriorated cartilage that is the cause of arthritis.
Arthritis is a degenerative condition eroding cartilage. With PRP therapy, it is possible to fix much the damage caused by eroding cartilage and provide healthy cells that replace damaged cartilage cells. As a result, new cartilage forms acting as a way to absorb the bone-to-bone friction between the joints of the feet.
A small amount of a patient’s blood is drawn and then spun at high speed. The platelets are concentrated and this liquid is then collected and reinjected around or near the area of injury being treated. The PRP at this stage contains three to five times the concentration of growth factors compared to regular blood.
The consultant may recommend a single injection or a series of injections based on the injury being treated and a patient’s initial response to the therapy, and in some cases may use ultrasound or an X-ray as a guide to placing the injection.
