Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP) Therapy

• Platelet-rich plasma is autologous, which means it comes from the patient's body, so it is normal and the injections bear little risks.
• Other therapies for mild to moderate osteoarthritis may be ineffective or vary from person to person, and some may have side effects or drawbacks:
  Physical exercise and/or weight loss may also improve, but do not necessarily remove symptoms.
• Cortisone injections have been shown to alleviate osteoarthritis pain, but frequent injections may weaken ligaments and tendons over time and may have a negative impact on healthy cartilage.
• Anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS) such as aspirin and ibuprofen can relieve discomfort, but long-term use can cause stomach problems, blood pressure and heart problems worse.
• Minor surgeries for osteoarthritis treatment, such as arthroscopic debridement, have inconsistent outcomes and might not be better than placebo.
• Joint replacement procedures are major procedures requiring long-term recovery and should be reserved for more debilitating cases of arthritis.

Although there is no widely agreed set of requirements defining who is eligible for PRP injections, many suggested criteria are described below:

• Osteoarthritis pain affects the everyday activities.
• Some more traditional therapies have failed or have been eliminated:
• Physical therapy for improving joint muscles has not helped
  
• The patient is susceptible to anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs ) such as ibuprofen or feels that NSAIDs do not offer sufficient pain relief.
  
• Joint expectations are not acceptable or do not offer sufficient relief for pain
  
• Steroid injections did not work, or the patient wishes to stop steroid injections.

Platelet-rich plasma injections are not generally recommended for the most serious cases of osteoarthritis.