What is PRP?
Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) is a preparation of human blood with an increased platelet concentration produced by concentrating a larger volume of a patient’s own blood. Platelets contain growth factors which are concentrated through processing to release high amounts of these factors to an injury site to augment the natural healing process. Improvements in soft tissue healing have been demonstrated with a 1.5 to 5 times increase in growth factors.
What is the procedure?
Patients schedule a 60-minute visit with their practitioner in the clinic. Approximately 10-60cc (1-4 test tubes) of blood is taken from the arm veins as is standard with any blood braw. The blood is mixed with an anticoagulant factor prior to further processing in a centrifuge. Nothing else is added to the blood/PRP. The blood is processed into one of the formulations (see below). The PRP is then injected to the site of pain and/or injury, with or without the use of ultrasound guidance, No special diet, nor activity restrictions are necessary after the injection however, it is best not to plan on a very active day or large workout for 24 hours. Minimize large, fatty meals at least 4 hours prior to your injection.
What are the different formulations of PRP?
PRP preparations are typically further categorized into specific preparations that dictate their effect in the body.
Leukocyte-Rich PRP (LR-PRP): A PRP type that has a neutrophil (white blood cell) concentration above baseline and is generally associated with pro-inflammatory effects. It is sometime beneficial to stimulate an inflammation in the body to call attention to a chronic condition such as tendinopathy.
Leukocyte-Poor (LP-PRP): A type of PRP that is defined as having a white blood cell (neutrophil) concentration below baseline. This formulation is anti-inflammatory and can be used to decrease pain and inflammation for multiple disorders such as osteoarthritis.
PRP with Concentrated Alpha-2-macroglogulin (A2M): A type of PRP that uses a specifically designed filter to concentrate A2M molecules that are known as “scavenging molecules.” A2M decreases non-beneficial enzymes at the site of injection and have been shown to be strongly anti-inflammatory.
Will this be covered by my insurance?
Generally, insurance does not cover the cost of a PRP injection. Cash pay price is:
For one joint or area = $950
For two joints or areas = $1,050
