Celebrities. Pain Clinics. Viral Videos.
Anyone browsing through social media must have come across the term “PRP‘.
There would likely be many tall claims of “Magic drug” or “Wonder Drug“
How much of it is true? Lets cut the hype and go deeper into it.
What Exactly Is PRP?
PRP is a type of Orthobiologic.
It is harvested from the patient’s own blood (usually 10-50 ml) and centriguge it in a lab machine to get the platelets (small blood cells) in higher concentration.
When the final concentrated preparation is injected into the patient’s affected area, it releases growth factors which promote natural healing of the area.
Thats it.
No Artificial Medicine. No Foreign Substance.
The biology of PRP is eegant. The problem isn’t the science behind it – rather how it is offered to the patient as a magical cure.
So, Why Is Everyone Talking About PRP?
PRP offecrs some real benefits which attract everyone easily.
- Minimally Invasive
- No Surgery
- Faster recovery
- Natural healing
However, what actually matters is proper patient selection to get optimum results.
What Does The Evidence Say?
STRONG
Knee Arthritis (Early to moderate changes)
STRONG
Tennis Elbow
STRONG
Plantar Fasciitis (Heel Pain)
MODERATE
Rotatoe Cuff Tear
MODERATE
Achilles tendinopathy
EVOLVING
Acute Sports Injuries