PRP therapy is a type of biologic treatment that involves the use of the patient’s own blood plasma to promote healing. Platelets in the blood are responsible for clotting and contain growth factors that promote healing. With PRP therapy, a sample of the patient’s blood is taken and spun in a centrifuge to isolate platelets. A highly concentrated solution of the platelets is injected directly into the area of the injury.
One of the most common uses of PRP therapy is the treatment of sports injuries. A high number of PRP treatments are administered to patients with ACL (anterior cruciate ligament) injuries. An ACL injury can sideline an athlete or weekend warrior from participating in sports and exercise, and anyone who has this injury will likely want to recover as soon as possible. It is also one of the ligaments that when damaged, is unable to heal itself.
Let’s talk about how PRP therapy can help heal ACL injuries.
PRP Treatment of ACL Injuries
An injury will trigger the body to repair itself, yet one of the goals of PRP therapy is to enhance your body’s healing capabilities. It’s like your body’s natural ability to heal itself is supercharged. As a result, ACL injury healing time can be accelerated, pain can be effectively reduced, and the athlete can begin rehabilitation sooner.
How is this made possible by platelet-rich plasma treatments? Platelets naturally rush to the site of injury, since these components are natural healers. Then, blood clotting begins to facilitate cellular migration and the formation of new blood vessels, which are critical stages of healing. What platelet-rich plasma injections do is stimulate this process with the help of a much higher concentration of platelets than normal, which results in soft tissue regeneration in a shorter amount of time.
Compared to other treatments for ACL injuries, such as surgery, there is virtually no downtime associated with PRP injections. By healing the damaged soft tissue, patients can delay or completely eliminate the need for surgery. Studies show PRP treatments help boost healing up to 60 times faster in those who undergo ACL repair surgery.
PRP therapy, just like any other medical treatment, should be administered by a medical professional and performed under a sterile technique. It is minimally invasive, thereby carrying a low risk of complications, and it comes from your body, which further drives down the risk of negative results, such as bodily rejection. Patients who receive the treatment are able to return to work on the same day as the treatment.
PRP Treatments in Pembroke Pines & Lauderdale Lakes, FL
Total Orthopaedic Care offers PRP therapy as one of our biologic treatment offerings. Our orthopedic specialists administer this leading-edge treatment in our well-equipped and advanced facility. We will evaluate your knee and determine whether you can benefit from PRP therapy to treat your ACL injury.
To schedule a consultation with one of our orthopedic doctors, call our clinic today at (954) 735-3535 or use our convenient appointment request form. We look forward to helping you make a complete and successful recovery from your knee injury!
