Over the past years, there have been a lot of positive
writings and excellent clinical results about the use of platelet-rich plasma
(PRP) on various injuries whether they are acute or chronic.
What is PRP?
Blood is mainly composed a clear yellowish liquid called of
plasma, but it also contains solid particles which are the red blood cells,
white blood cells and platelets. Each plays a very important role in maintaining
the homeostasis of the body. Red blood cells are responsible for carrying
oxygen throughout the body, white blood cells defend the body from various
infections, and platelets are responsible for the maintenance and repair from
various injuries in the body. It is this special ability of platelets to repair
and regenerate tissues that makes modern medicine so successful in treating
ailments that are thought to be irreparable or untreatable by conservative
means.
Advantages of PRP
1.
Platelets are first to respond to soft tissue
injury.
2.
PRP is packed with growth and healing factors.
Platelets initiate repair and attract the assistance of stem cells.
3.
PRP release chemical mediators to attract more
platelets on the injured area, intensifying the body’s natural healing
processes.
4.
PRP not only repairs the injured site, it can
also alleviate pain.
5.
PRP is autologous. This means that the medium
used for treatment is not made from substances extracted from plants, animals
or synthetically made in a laboratory, the platelets are extracted from the
patient’s own blood.
6.
Infection is very minimal. After extraction, the
blood is centrifuged to separate the platelets from other blood cells. The
platelet is then injected directly to the affected site.
7.
It is non-invasive. No incisions, no opening of
the skin, just a simple injection.
8.
No allergic reaction or rejection, since the
platelets are gathered from the patient’s own blood.
9.
The procedure is fast and cost-effective
