PLATELET RICH PLASMA (PRP)

Platelets are some of the tiniest of mother nature's amazing biologic packages. They are filled with an array of bioactive chemicals and wound healing factors and are likened to little water balloons filled with the body's natural healing compounds that can be burst open on demand anywhere in the body to help repair an injury. Unlike whole cells, platelets are actually just cell pieces, broken off like branches from larger cells called megakaryocytes, which are found deep in the bone marrow. They function more as biologic care packages then as living cells that continue to divide. Nevertheless, they perform an incredible number of functions as they circulate throughout the body and home in to sites of damage and inflammation.

Probably platelets' most well known function is assisting with the formation of a blood clot once we cut ourselves. In the case of a skin wound, they are the first responders on the way toward forming a scab. In the case of a ruptured plaque inside a blood vessel within the heart, they form what's known as a platelet plug and can both help heal the damaged blood vessel wall or actually contribute to worsening a heart attack depending on the state of one's heart disease or atheroschlerosis at the time.

Because of these extraordinary properties, clinicians have been using a biologic preparation known as Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) for years, mostly inside the operating room, to help speed healing of various surgical wounds and repairs. As cardiac surgeons, we often apply PRP to sternotomy wounds during open heart surgery to enhance wound healing and prevent infection, especially in our elderly diabetic population.

With regards to orthopedic injuries and conditions, which include ailments such as osteoarthritis, musculoskeletal sprains, tendon injuries and ligament tears, there is a mounting body of literature demonstrating safety and efficacy, especially regarding pain relief, speed of healing, and long term function. Because of this and the fact that PRP collecting systems have been approved by the FDA for surgical applications with years of use, we feel PRP is a very acceptable modality to offer to our patients at this time.

PRP does not require a bone marrow aspirate or a liposuction procedure. It is very safe and comes from a short preparation process using your own peripheral blood. Ultimately, PRP will likely be used in combination with or be entirely replaced by stem cell therapies, however at this time, it is one of the safest and most trusted biologic treatments we can offer our patients for orthopedic injuries and conditions.

CALL TO SCHEDULE a REGENERATIVE MEDICINE APPOINTMENt with Dr. Reiss:  

(435) 200-3452