Benefits of platelet-rich plasma treatments for injuries
When the injured baseball player arrived at CMC Orthopaedics, Dr. Jason Sharp knew he wanted to avoid surgery.
The 14-year-old athlete had a partially torn ulnar collateral ligament, an elbow injury that often requires what’s commonly called Tommy John surgery. But because of the teen’s age, Dr. Sharp suggested the patient try an alternative treatment: injecting platelet-rich plasma.
“It can sometimes prevent you from having surgery,” said Dr. Sharp, who specializes in sports medicine. “And it can get you back a little bit faster in the sense that you’re not out for the year. You’re out for maybe four to six months depending on how bad your injury was.”
Platelet-rich plasma treatments are a type of regenerative medicine. They involve taking plasma, the liquid portion of the blood, and creating an injection that uses the platelets, the cells that assist the body in healing.
“It’s your own body’s healing potential,” Dr. Sharp said. “You’re taking your own blood, spinning it down, and then using the platelet-rich plasma in order to inject it back in.”
In the case of the teenage ballplayer, the treatment proved effective. “The last I checked with him, he was throwing again and not having any pain,” Dr. Sharp said. “Hopefully, he does not have to have surgery because he is quite young and we want to avoid surgery at all costs, at least for somebody that young.”
Although PRP treatments have been available for decades, they are not as recognizable as cortisone because they are not covered by health insurance (cortisone is covered).
A PRP injection costs about $800, and sometimes a series is necessary. CMC, however, has added new technology that allows the provider to limit arthritis treatments to two injections.
CMC also uses an ultrasound to guide the injections, which can go straight into a tendon. That’s not the case with a cortisone shot.
“In the long term, cortisone is such a potent anti-inflammatory that it can actually break down a joint in the long run if we were to continuously do it every three months for years and years,” Dr. Sharp said. “PRP has not been shown to break down the bone because it’s your own body’s healing potential.”
Dr. Sharp acknowledges that PRP has limitations, and some injuries will require surgery. But he’s seen the benefits for arthritis and injury patients firsthand. “PRP is never going to be able to replace surgery,” he said. “But this can potentially be an alternative to it.”
Conway Medical Center: The Leading Sports Medicine Doctors in Horry County / Myrtle Beach
At Conway Medical Center, our sports medicine specialists concentrate on keeping you off the sideline and in the game, whether that means helping you perform better at a physically demanding job or protecting your elbow so you can continue to enjoy your golf game.
Our Sports Medicine Services offers insight to help improve your sports and work performance and dramatically reduce the chances of injury. Our focus is on non-operative, activity-related injuries, regardless of your age or lifestyle.
Contact us to learn more or to schedule an appointment.
