Oct 27, 2020
ASK THE DOCS: Facebook Live Series
Every 1st Wednesday of the month at 12:30 PT
Live Question and Answer session with Regenerative Experts
Non-Surgical Treatment of Tendon and Ligament Injuries using PRP and Cell Based therapy
Join us on our Free Facebook Live Series called Ask the Docs. In this session, SDOMG physician experts will answer your questions related to Non-Surgical Treatment of Tendon and Ligament Injuries using PRP and Cell Based therapy.
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Aug 28, 2020
The liquid portion of blood called plasma has been used for several years to help patients facing life-threatening conditions such as immune deficiency disorders and organ transplantation. Because it has helped treat so many chronic and rare diseases, it has been referred to as “the gift of life.”[i]
More recently, physicians have discovered that a patient’s own plasma and its’ cells can help expedite the recovery from orthopedic injuries. Platelet rich plasma treatments, known as PRP, use the healing power of platelets to harness growth factors and other proteins that are essential for healing.
How Platelet Rich Plasma Treatment Works
Blood is comprised of red blood cells, white blood cells,platelets and plasma. The plasma contains hormones, electrolytes and nutrients that are needed to nourish cells during the healing process.
During platelet rich plasma treatment, the patient’s own blood is drawn and placed in a centrifuge machine where the platelets are separated and concentrated. This results in a PRP solution that contains up to 10 times more platelets than that typically found in blood.[ii] With its super-charged healing capabilities, platelet rich plasma can be used to treat a number of orthopedic conditions, including:
· Joint arthritis (knee, shoulder, hip, thumb or spine)
· Injured tendons like rotator cuff tendon, Tennis elbow and Achilles tendon
· Ligament sprains in the wrist, ankle or sacroiliac joints
· Carpal tunnel syndrome
· Degenerated discs, mild spinal stenosis and sciatica
Not All PRP Treatments Are the Same
When it comes to platelet rich plasma treatment, one size does not fit all. Several factors can influence the success rate of treatment:
· The patient must receive an accurate diagnosis.
· Image guidance with ultrasound or fluoroscopy (x-ray) for targeted delivery to the injured tissues is necessary.
· The PRP formulation must be customized to the specific injury being treated.
· The initial injury severity must be considered.
When administered appropriately and in the right formulation for the specific injury, most patients begin to experience results within four to eight weeks after platelet rich plasma treatment. About 10% of patients will feel relief within days.
PRP treatments are performed on an out-patient basis in the physician’s office. There is no need for hospitalization or lengthy rehabilitation. The entire procedure takes less than an hour and patients may typically resume normal activity within days.
Dr. Christopher Rogers of San Diego Orthobiologics Medical Group performed one of the first PRP treatments in San Diego in 2009. He and Dr. Mary Ambach are experts in the field of regenerative therapy for orthopedic injuries. They have successfully treated thousands of patients with PRP and other orthobiologics.
Sources:
[i] Donating Plasma: What is Plasma
[ii] OrthoInfo: Platelet Rich Plasma
Jul 16, 2020
Most Americans will experience pain and stiffness from arthritis at some point in their lives. Arthritis can affect any joint in the body, including the knee, hip, shoulder, back…even the fingers and toes.
Osteoarthritis, commonly known as degenerative arthritis, is estimated to affect one in four U.S. adults, making it one of the most common medical conditions Americans will face. It is a chronic joint disease that slowly degenerates the protective cartilage in your joints and causes chronic inflammation. It can be successfully treated with platelet rich plasma therapy, which heals injured tissues and decreases painful inflammation.
How Platelet Rich Plasma Therapy Works
There are different kinds of cells found in our blood. Red blood cells, white blood cells and platelets all serve critical functions in the body. These include carrying oxygen, fighting infection and repairing damaged tissues.
Platelets help to stop bleeding, but they also release growth factors and proteins that promote tissue repair and decrease inflammation. Platelet rich plasma therapy concentrates these important healing components and reintroduces them in the specific injured area to stimulate tissue repair. Its powerful healing properties can improve the degenerative effects of osteoarthritis and stop its progression (1).
Is it Safe?
Platelet Rich Plasma is the most common orthobiologic used to treat orthopedic conditions. Orthobiologics are cells and cellular molecules used to heal orthopedic injuries. There are hundreds of research studies in the peer-reviewed medical literature showing the safety of this treatment for orthopedic conditions (2-13).
How Effective Are Platelet Rich Plasma Treatments for Joint Osteoarthritis?
High quality clinical studies have proven that PRP is more effective than standard treatments of exercise, steroid injections and hyaluronic acid (gel) injections. PRP has been shown to improve pain and function in patients with knee osteoarthritis in particular.
Several factors play a role in the successful outcome with these treatments, including the severity of the osteoarthritis, medical comorbidities, medications and the patient’s nutritional status. It is important to evaluate the patient as a whole to determine proper treatment and to support a positive outcome.
Dr. Christopher Rogers of San Diego Orthobiologics Group performed one of the first PRP treatments in San Diego in 2009, and SDOMG is proud to be the first clinic in San Diego—and third in the United States—to offer ENDORET PRGF therapy for the treatment of orthopedic conditions. Dr. Rogers and Dr. Mary Ambach have performed thousands of ultrasound-guided platelet rich plasma treatments. Many patients obtain successful results with their PRP treatments after just one treatment.
Sources:
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6959502/pdf/jpr-13-65.pdf
- https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0749806313010050
- https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0749806315003539
- https://bjsm.bmj.com/content/49/10/657.short
- https://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s13018-017-0521-3
- https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0003999313012124
- https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/0363546512471299
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4844477/pdf/epj-08-2115.pdf
- https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0749806316307800
- https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/0363546520909397
- https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00590-020-02623-4
- https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0749806315006593
13.https://cdn.journals.lww.com/md-journal/FullText/2020/03130/Platelet_rich_plasma_versus_hyaluronic_acid_in_the.40.aspx
Jun 4, 2020
Colleen is an active patient in her 60s who suffered from a partial tendon tear after a traumatic injury to her ankle. Her podiatrist placed her in a boot for weeks, but she continued to have pain and her injury was not healed. She consulted with Dr. Mary Ambach and was successfully treated with Platelet Rich Plasma Therapy (PRP).
Dr. Ambach is a very gracious and supportive doctor. I have had an amazing experience with her and am on the way to 100% recovery.
Partial Tendon Tear Success Story:
May 20, 2020
J.Z. is a woman in her late fifties with severe knee osteoarthritis and meniscus degeneration. Dr. Ambach successfully performed the fat derived regenerative cell and platelet rich plasma (PRP) to treat her symptoms.
My experience was amazing! Dr. Ambach explained everything as she performed the procedure. I would definitely recommend this.
Knee Osteoarthritis Success Story:
