What is it?

Your consultant can discuss whether you are suitable for platelet rich plasma therapy in outpatient clinic, based on your history, examination findings and investigations including X-rays and MRI scanning.

Platelet rich plasma (PRP) therapy is when a patient’s own blood platelets are injected into the affected joint area to provoke the body’s own healing process. Platelets have an important role in natural healing as they contain various natural growth factors.

PRP injections are offered for chronic tendonitis around the hip and knee.

PRP injections are just being approved by insurance companies for use in early hip arthritis. The outcomes of this procedure are uncertain at this relatively early stage but initial results are encouraging.

Treatment and procedure

The PRP therapy procedure involves a small amount of blood being taken in the standard way, usually from your arm. It is then placed in a centrifuge which spins and separates the platelets from the rest of the blood. The highly concentrated platelets are then injected into the injured area. In response to this, growth factors are released, triggering the body’s natural healing response.

The majority of biologics treatments can be carried out in the clinic setting, as an out-patient. The injection may require radiological guidance to allow precise localisation of the therapy. Our consultants work closely with an experienced musculoskeletal radiologist where this is required.