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Friday, November 16, 2018

By Joshua Campbell


Platelet rich plasma (or simply, PRP) is a product that is obtained from blood and used in the management of various conditions. Its main property is that it hastens the process of tissue healing when injected into a given site. If they intend on making use of prp therapy Portland patients should ensure they learn some important facts first.

Plasma is the part of blood in which the cells float. It is rich in proteins that serve various functions in the body. Among these functions is wound healing. Platelets are tiny pellets whose main role is to facilitate wound healing by initiating the formation of clots around injured areas. When one is to be treated using prp, the blood used is their own.

The procedure itself is quite simple and takes less than one hour on average. The first thing that is done is collection of blood from a vein into a small tube. This is whole blood that contains cells as well as the plasma. It has to undergo gentrification so as to separate the various components. The cells settle at the bottom and the plasma and platelets float. These can be drawn by a needle and injected directly into the disease area.

Osteoarthritis is among the conditions for which this therapy is being used. It is a degenerative joint disease seen mostly among persons in their fourth decade of life. It is characterized by pain, deformity and stiffness. It is chronic in nature and quite difficult to manage. It is not uncommon for the prescribed pain relievers to fail. This is why this therapy has gained acceptance rather easily.

Tendon injuries can be sustained in many ways. Commonly, they are the result of sporting activities such as playing tennis or golf. Any other strenuous physical activity has the potential to cause tendon injuries. Examples include Achilles tendonitis, tennis elbow and patellar tendon injury among others. Prp has provided some hope for these stubborn injuries.

One of the less common applications of this form of therapy is in the management of hair loss. Male pattern of baldness (also known as androgenic alopecia) is the form of hair loss that has been shown to be most responsive to the treatment. Other conditions that may be managed in this fashion include hamstring tears, rotator cuff tears and chronic plantar fasciitis among others.

Any treatment has a potential for side effects. This treatment is no exception. Possible complications that may be encountered albeit rarely are tissue injuries, infections, pain and damage to nerves. There is a need to have a discussion on the likelihood of having these complications before the treatment is given. The doctor should explain the precautions that will be undertaken to avoid them.

There is minimal evidence to support routine use of this treatment in clinical practice. However, there are lots of ongoing research activities many of which are returning very promising results. It is also worth noting that a number of personalities in athletics have been using it to quicken their recovery following sporting injuries. Because of the weak evidence that exists, many insurance companies are yet to start accepting responsibility as an insured service.




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