Osteoarthritis in the knee is the most frequent type of arthritis. This disease is characterised by increasing cartilage wear. Bone against bone is exposed as cartilage wears away, causing inflammation, discomfort, and swelling. Overall, lifestyle factors like exercise, weight loss, and diet are the most effective treatments for osteoarthritis.
Cortisone injections, on the other hand, have a limited effect and may be harmful and surgery is often seen as a last resort. Platelet-rich plasma injections for the knee continue to gain popularity worldwide. Here, we explore more about PRP for knee arthritis, including answers to frequently asked questions.
What is PRP?
Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) therapy accelerates the repair of injured tendons, ligaments, muscles, and joints by injecting a concentration of the patient’s own platelets. PRP injections work by utilising each patient’s own healing mechanism to alleviate musculoskeletal issues.
PRP injections are made by centrifuging one to several tubes of the patient’s own blood to concentrate the platelets. 10ml of blood, collected in a specific medical device & spun for 5 minutes, is often enough. The PRP is then injected into the damaged tissue of the body. This releases the growth factors, naturally contained within the platelets, which stimulate and increase the quantity of reparative cells produced by the body. This should help the healing cascade, without causing further damage, especially if the system has removed the more destructive components from the blood.
Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injections are increasingly being used for shoulder pain caused by rotator cuff tears, Achilles tendon ruptures,along with knee arthritis and other soft-tissue injuries. In persons with tendonitis or chronic tendinitis diseases like tennis elbow or golfer’s elbow, PRP has been shown to improve function and reduce pain.
How is PRP injected and what are the risks?
A doctor injects a single 5ml syringe of the patient’s PRP directly into the knee joint space using a long needle. This may be guided using an ultrasound image, depending on the clinician & the injury site. There is a minor risk of bleeding or infection with any injection.
Using standard antiseptic techniques, every effort is taken to decrease the danger of infection. Sometimes a temporary flare of stiffness, pain, and swelling may occur, but it usually responds well to paracetamol, rest, and ice packs. This can also be dependent on the technology used. Within the first few weeks, patients may notice a difference.
Is PRP treatment effective?
Several factors influence the success of platelet-rich plasma therapy, including:
and the
- Your general well-being
- Whether your injury is chronic (meaning it has developed over time) or acute (meaning it happened suddenly), we can help (sudden and serious)
- Which portion of your body requires medical attention
- The platelet-rich plasma treatment’s preparation
Although PRP for knee arthritis may not be ideal for everyone, people with early to moderate osteoarthritis can have a significant improvement in knee pain and function. Response rates, the degree of arthritis, and the type of PRP protocol used all have different outcomes, however it has become a popular form of treatment due to positive results.
What is expected after treatment?
It is recommended that patients avoid over exercising the area for 24 to 48 hours after the injection. Also, it is recommended they refrain from taking aspirin or anti-inflammatories for 7 days prior to treatment and for 4 weeks afterwards, as these medicines may interfere with platelet function and treatment efficiency. As symptoms improve during the week, they can resume regular activities and move to exercises prescribed by the medical professional conducting the treatment.
If you’re looking for a PRP supplier or to add PRP to your clinic, please get in touch.