Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) is becoming a form of treatment for many different medical conditions. PRP is blood plasma that contains an elevated level of platelets. The concentrated platelets contain many different growth factors that are responsible for accelerating a persons natural healing process when applied to many parts of the human body. Creating platelet rich plasma can increase the level of platelets up to five times more than platelet levels in normal whole blood.
Several studies are currently underway to find out if PRP can be a successful form of treatment for specific orthopaedic conditions. The American Journal of Sports Medicine recently published an article that stated PRP was a better treatment option for gonarthrosis than hyaluronic acid. Gonarthrosis is simply a disorder of the knee joint, or osteoarthritis. The physicians conducted a study of 120 patients with gonarthrosis. 60 patients received intra-articular injections of PRP, the other 60 received intra-articular injections of hyaluronic acid. Using the WOMAC score to assess the trial patients, it was obvious that the PRP injection patients scored better than the hyaluronic acid injected patients with gonarthrosis.
To read the abstract or full text of this randomized trial, click on the following link
