Re-administration of your own platelets to activate your body’s natural healing
Platelet Rich Plasma is prepared by centrifuging a small amount of a patient’s blood to obtain a platelet-rich sample. The platelets are activated and then injected under ultrasound or X-ray guidance. In most cases, the treatment can be completed in one session.
More than one course of PRP may be required and can be safely performed depending upon the response to the therapy and clinical indications.
Once introduced, the platelets then release signal proteins and growth factors which activate the cells. Stem cells by themselves are limited in their ability to repair the injured area. For their maximal effect, repair cells have to be properly directed, and platelets perform this function. In effect, repair cells are construction workers and the platelets are their supervisors. Once they are activated, these repair cells perform a variety of valuable functions. Apart from repairing damage to the injured areas, they help damaged cells repair themselves and participate in the repairing process in a process called Immunomodulation.
We use ultrasound guidance or x-ray fluoroscopy to increase the precision and accuracy of Platelet Rich Plasma administration and decrease the likelihood of complications.
This is especially important when injecting PRP into the back.
