Great bakers know that when it comes to delivering the best treats and sweets, you have to carefully measure your ingredients.
The same applies to Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) therapy. The measured amount, the dosage, of concentrated platelets and other cells in the plasma, must be customized to each patient’s specific condition to achieve the best outcomes.
Platelet rich plasma uses highly concentrated platelets to speed up the healing process, decrease inflammation and stimulate tissue regeneration. See our blog on PRP. As we go in-depth in the study of PRP, we now know that determining the best PRP treatment is not just about how much platelets are in the injection.
Not All PRP are the same
There are other factors that need to be considered to obtain the best PRP treatment. There are other other cells in the PRP, specifically the red blood cells and white blood cells that need to be adjusted depending on the patient’s condition. Platelets release growth factors that facilitate the healing process. The timing and pattern of growth factor release and the individual’s cellular response to growth factors may vary. This can affect outcome and should be thought out in determining PRP treatment. There is a wide variety of methods used to harvest, process and deliver PRP therapy. The resulting platelet count, cell composition and PRP quality are highly variable and can affect clinical outcome.
Only physicians truly experienced in using PRP know how to adjust the dosing appropriately. Joints, tendons, ligament and nerves require their own specific PRP formulation. Imagine if a doctor writes the incorrect kind and amount of antibiotic to treat your specific infection. Patients should make sure that they do their homework in seeking skilled and experienced physicians providing their PRP treatment. These physicians should not only know how to provide the best customized PRP for your need, they should also be adept in the delivery of PRP therapy. These physicians should have advanced training in diagnostic ultrasound or fluoroscopic (xray) guided procedures to make the procedure safe, comfortable and effective.
Not all PRP dosing is the same. Patients should choose physicians who have the knowledge and expertise to ensure they get the right kind of PRP for their orthopedic condition.
Dr. Christopher J. Rogers and Dr Mary A. Ambach are experts and key leaders in the field of regenerative medicine. They are board certified doctors with over 20 years of combined research and clinical experience in platelet rich plasma and other cell based therapies.