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Therapeutic Injection of PRP

What is Platelet Rich Plasma?

Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) is a concentration of platelets isolated from the liquid component of human whole blood by centrifugation. This concentrate contains a reservoir of bioactive proteins, including growth factors that are important for tissue regeneration and repair.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved the use of PRP in limited orthopedic applications. At the current time FDA approval for certain injections are considered "off label use" even though this is not a manufactured product requiring long-term safety evaluations. Although FDA approval is pending PRP injections are frequently performed at many academic centers and high-level clinics, like ours, and is considered to be safe and effective.

The benefits of PRP compared to alternative treatments

  • PRP is entirely natural (All components are created from patients own blood)
  • More traditional treatments (steroid injections) may have negative effects
  • Repeated steroid injections can weaken and lead to rupture of tendon
  • Repeated steroid injections into a joint may result in damage
  • Steroids injections are a foreign, pharmaceutical substance
  • Long-term oral anti-inflammatory medications do not treat the underlying pathology and can lead to gastrointestinal issues
  • Surgical management is invasive with much higher risks

Who is considered a candidate for PRP injections?

  • History of long standing tendonitis or other like conditions who have failed previous conservative treatments
  • Inability to tolerate oral non-steroidal anti-inflammatory mediations due to medical problems, allergies, or gastrointestinal upset
  • Sufficient symptoms requiring repeated injections or surgery

Who is not considered a candidate for PRP injections?

  • Unable to discontinue use of blood thinners, aspirin, or anti-inflammatory due to medical problems such as blood clots, atrial fibrillation, heart disease, etc.
    • Patients will be required to obtain medical clearance from their primary care physician prior to discontinuing use.
  • Patients who refuse the removal and/or injection or blood products
  • Allergies to local anesthetics such as numbing agents or other similar numbing agents

Billing and Payment:

Insurance companies do not frequently cover the injection of PRP and therefore cash payments will be required at the time of injection scheduling. If desired, you may apply to or petition your insurance company for reimbursement. We recommend obtaining your medical records to aid in this process. Unfortunately, our clinic staff is unable to offer further assistance in this process.