Platelet Rich Plasma injections in Sports medicine.

[defense51]

My son has been dealing with patella tendonitis in his knee for almost two years, with no improvement from Physical therapy or medications. Dr. Meister recommended an injection of his own blood, where the blood is spun down into platelets and injected directly into the patella tendon to speed up the healing time " tenfold ".
I'm curious if any posters on here have experience that procedure, and what was the outcome? Did it improve the condition 100%, 50%, 25%, 0%, or make it worse than before the procedure. Any info would be appreciated!

[ronwx5x]

Looked up a couple of sources of information and links are provided below. You may well have seen these already. Some good, some not so good but nothing pops out as dangerous. The biggest shortcoming seems to be that many insurance plans will not cover the cost of PRP

http://www.scientificamerican.com/article/platelet-rich-plasma-therapy-dennis-cardone-sports-medicine-injury/

http://orthopedics.about.com/od/injectio2/p/prp.htm

[slingshot]

No personal experience... but have had several patients have it done. Seems to work pretty well for things like tendinitis--not as well for degenerative conditions. Couple of ortho guys I know really like it. Not covered by insurance.

[44INAROW]

My son has been dealing with patella tendonitis in his knee for almost two years, with no improvement from Physical therapy or medications. Dr. Meister recommended an injection of his own blood, where the blood is spun down into platelets and injected directly into the patella tendon to speed up the healing time " tenfold ".
I'm curious if any posters on here have experience that procedure, and what was the outcome? Did it improve the condition 100%, 50%, 25%, 0%, or make it worse than before the procedure. Any info would be appreciated!

Interesting - is it an in=office procedure?

[defense51]

Interesting - is it an in=office procedure?

Yes it is done in office, and takes about 45 minutes from start to finish. I've researched it extensively, and it seems to be about a 70/30 good results to bad ratio, I just haven't spoken to anyone personally who's had it done.

[defense51]

No personal experience... but have had several patients have it done. Seems to work pretty well for things like tendinitis--not as well for degenerative conditions. Couple of ortho guys I know really like it. Not covered by insurance.
You are correct, it's not covered by insurance. $450 out of pocket...

[jacket98,99]

I am a physical therapist working in orthopedics my entire career. I have seen this procedure used a handful of times and it can work if applied to the right situation and the managed appropriately afterward. Physical therapy is commonly not effective in treating this type of problem if the PT is treating it as "tendonitis" rather than treating it as TENDONOSIS. Tendonitits is more of an acute problem that eventually transitions to tendonosis if the inflammation is never fully resolved. For example, an athlete will try ice, NSAIDS, stretching, etc with no resolution because once you begin to get degenerative changes in the tendon tissue the pain is no longer from the inflammation alone, but rather the structural tissue damage itself. The injection of the platelets is to actually promote healthy cell proliferation (growth) to return the tensile strength/integrity of the tendon back to normal. Be careful though....you can't just get the injection and jump right back into activity.

[44INAROW]

I am a physical therapist working in orthopedics my entire career. I have seen this procedure used a handful of times and it can work if applied to the right situation and the managed appropriately afterward. Physical therapy is commonly not effective in treating this type of problem if the PT is treating it as "tendonitis" rather than treating it as TENDONOSIS. Tendonitits is more of an acute problem that eventually transitions to tendonosis if the inflammation is never fully resolved. For example, an athlete will try ice, NSAIDS, stretching, etc with no resolution because once you begin to get degenerative changes in the tendon tissue the pain is no longer from the inflammation alone, but rather the structural tissue damage itself. The injection of the platelets is to actually promote healthy cell proliferation (growth) to return the tensile strength/integrity of the tendon back to normal. Be careful though....you can't just get the injection and jump right back into activity.

My PT son's response was

"Had a couple pts do it, I dont think they felt any remarkable improvement. They were older with others issue too. I dont know enough about it to give an educated answer. "
He's so used to having to be PC and CYA - he even answers his mother that way ROFL :) He does all kinds of PT but he is known as the "knee healer" in this area lol........ that and wound care....

[Manso/V8]

My son has been dealing with patella tendonitis in his knee for almost two years, with no improvement from Physical therapy or medications. Dr. Meister recommended an injection of his own blood, where the blood is spun down into platelets and injected directly into the patella tendon to speed up the healing time " tenfold ".
I'm curious if any posters on here have experience that procedure, and what was the outcome? Did it improve the condition 100%, 50%, 25%, 0%, or make it worse than before the procedure. Any info would be appreciated!

I know of two athletes who had PRP to help reduce tendonitis after ACL surgery and it sure seemed to help.
Steroid treatments are helpful as well from what I was told.

[slingshot]

Need to try PT, rest, NSAID's and steroids first... if still no better this is certainly worth trying. Not a quick fix though--will take 3 months or more to really work per a sports med specialist and an ortho doc I spoke with about it that do it routinely. Good luck and let us know how it works.

[ValleyCat]

Have there been X-rays, MRIs, and possibly a CT scan done??

This sounds chronic for it to continue for two years.

[Gen.Pat]

Prayers sent several folks in our church had it done and were very happy with the results .

[toddg]

Must be working..#51 looking pretty darn quick in practice this week!!