A platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injection is a natural treatment that uses a person’s own blood to encourage healing of damaged muscles, joints, ligaments & tendons.
With plasma making up around 55% of a persons total blood volume, plasma helps to carry red & white blood cells along with platelets around your body. Containing hundreds of proteins and vital components for healing, a PRP injection is believed to promote healing and the growth of healthy new cells. While more studies are needed to verify this, patients who have had this treatment have found it to be an important part of their recovery from an injury.
Since a PRP injection uses your own blood, it means there is no risk of an allergic reaction. The only side effect you may have is discomfort from the injection and bruising afterwards – just like any other injection.
This depends on your own circumstance and Professor Hopper will be more than happy to discuss this with you. A PRP injection works over several months.
This treatment is recommended if you have mild to moderate knee osteoarthritis that hasn’t improved with other conservative measures such as lifestyle changes or physiotherapy. It is supported by the European Society of Sports Traumatology, Knee Surgery & Arthroscopy (ESSKA) who concluded in their consensus that ‘clinical evidence confirms the efficacy of PRP in the treatment of knee osteoarthritis.’
PRP may not be suitable if you have certain medical conditions (haemophilia, poorly-controlled diabetes, autoimmune conditions) or are taking particular blood thinning medications. Additionally, if you have any current infections or risks for infection then the injection would not be recommended.
At Glasgow Knee Surgery Clinic, a thorough history, clinical examination and review of x-rays will be undertaken by Professor Hopper to ensure this injection is right for you.
The procedure takes roughly 30 minutes and is an outpatient treatment.
You will be reviewed prior to the procedure and any questions that you may have beforehand can be answered.
Firstly we take a blood sample, which can often be as much as 60ml. The blood is then centrifuged to obtain the PRP whilst you wait in the clinic reception.
When we are ready to begin the procedure, you will be positioned as comfortably as possible on the treatment table and will be given a local anaesthetic injection or spray to numb the area.
We use ultrasound to guide the needle into your knee joint where we will then remove any joint fluid and inject the PRP.
There may be some discomfort and stiffness following the procedure but this is usually temporary. We recommend avoiding any significant activities for a few days then commencing a gradual rehab programme. At Glasgow Knee Surgery Clinic we have links to several leading physiotherapists within the region and can recommend and liaise directly with them regarding your injection.
