Friday, May 27, 2016

Important Information On Platelet Rich Plasma Therapy

By Robert Johnson


Platelets are granules that are found in blood and derived from the same components as white and red blood cells. They play an integral part in the healing and repair process of injured tissues. Platelet rich plasma, PRP, is made up of plasma that is enriched with platelets. Platelet rich plasma therapy is used in a number of medical fields in Vaughan that include dentistry, pain management and reconstructive surgery among others.

The preparation of PRP starts with the drawing of blood from the patient. The next step is double centrifugation which separates the cellular components of blood (red cells and while cells) and plasma (mixed with platelets). The platelets that are collected together with the plasma are augmented with calcium chloride and thrombin. Cytokine and growth factors found in PRP include insulin-like growth factors, fibroblast growth factor, interleukin 8 and connective tissue growth factor among others.

The PRP is injected into the affected area directly usually under the guidance of ultrasound. This ensures that it is delivered to the exact site especially when dealing with enclosed body parts such as joints. Examples of conditions that may be treated using this type of therapy include pelvic pain, ankle sprains, cardiac muscle injuries, rotator cuff tears and ligament sprains among others. PRP can be given on its own or in combination with other treatments.

One of the newest applications of this treatment is in the management of sporting injuries among professional athletes. There have been some concerns that the therapy may be violating anti-doping rules. Since it has not been clearly demonstrated whether it gives athletes a competitive edge, the subject remains open for discussion. For the time being, the therapy will continue to help athletes heal faster and resume what they love doing.

This treatment is typically done within a few hours. There are very few side effects if any which makes it possible to administer the therapeutic agent in an outpatient clinic. You will notice an improvement after a couple of hours and you can resume your normal routine immediately. A majority of people will need just a single injection in six months. For others, two or three are needed.

Rarely, injections may be followed up by pain in the area in which they are administered. This normally resolves within a couple of days but may persist in a small proportion of people. The pain is likely to be experienced by persons in whom injections take place into tendons. The presence of the plasma in the tendons irritates an already diseased tendon. In such cases, the pain will resolve after some weeks.

Although PRP therapy can be given to virtually anyone, there are situations in which its use is not recommended. If you are a heavy smoker, the general recommendation is that you should stop for some time as administering the treatment may aggravate your problem. Medical conditions that make the treatment potentially harmful include, among others, thrombocytopenia, chronic liver disease, chronic skin diseases, sepsis and low levels of fibrinogen.

Platelet rich plasma is a treatment whose uses continue to grow by the day. One of the reasons as to why it is becoming a popular treatment is because of the low risk of complications because one receives their own blood. If you wish to have the therapy, visit your doctor so as to discuss your suitability as a candidate.




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