Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP)

PLATELET RICH PLASMA (abbreviated PRP) is the name given to a treatment done to stimulate healing which involves injection of one's own growth factors into injured areas.

Prolotherapy and PRP are regenerative injection therapies (RIT) that induce ligament, cartilage, tendon, and disc re-growth and regeneration.

Regenerative Injection Therapy (RIT) equates to the regeneration of normal tissue at the injury site.
We use your body's own growth factors, or Bioactive Proteins to encourage the in-growth of normal collagen and the remodeling of the previously injured tissue at the pain initiating site. In this way, your own growth factors become the Regenerative Injection Therapy Agent of choice.

Platelet rich Plasma - Bioactive Proteins that HEAL

How it's made:
Platelet growth factor is obtained by drawing a venous sample of blood (similar to a blood donation) and then using a special centrifuge to remove the red blood cells and the plasma component. 

What is it?
There are approximately 12 different growth factors present in your platelet rich plasma. These growth factors are concentrated to approximately 300 times your bodies normal levels. When injected at the injury site, they promote or regenerate an accelerated healing cascade.

Other choices for regenerative injection therapy agents exist, such as dextrose solution or dextrose with sodium morrhuate. These types of injections have been utilized since the 1930's with excellent results and are still utilized today. The process involves taking blood from the patient, spinning it down to growth factor rich platelets, then injecting that back into the injured area. PRP has been used in musculoskeletal medicine as early as the 1990's, and since the 1980's in surgical and dental procedures. Uses for PRP in musculoskeletal medicine include treatment of tendonopathy, tendonosis, acute and chronic muscle strain, ligament sprains and intra-articular injuries and joint pain such as arthritis and knee meniscus damage. 

PRP is an office procedure and Dr. Gallagher is certified to administer it. 

For more information:

PPM.pdf

LA Dodger's Saito received PRP procedure

Pittsburgh Steelers Hines Ward and Troy Polamalu received PRP Treatment (NY TIMES)

PRP.pdf

Prolotherapy with Platelet Rich Plasma is a Good Alternative for Labrum and Menisci Degeneration and/or Tears

Watch our video and see the procedure performed by Dr. Gallagher: