This method is recommended for the treatment of pain as follows:
- For quick recovery after meniscus and crucial ligament surgery.
- For bone fractures – whether operated on or not
- For shoulders
- For elbows
- For aching joints
- For osteoarthritis
- For tendonitis of the Achilles as well as epicondylitis
- For muscle strains
- For ulcers and non-healing wounds.
This treatment is simple and is no more than an injection of stem cells that is applied directly at the source of pain.
Initially a blood sample is taken from the patient with a hypodermic needle just as in simple blood testing. This is then processed using dedicated centrifugal equipment to separate platelets from other blood components. Afterwards, the blood, which is now rich in stem cells and platelets, is injected into the area of the patient’s body that requires treatment
Studies have proven that there is a 60% reduction of pain when patients have undergone PRP (Platelet-Rich Plasma) treatment comparing to a 16% reduction for patients that have not.
This percentage can reach 81% within 6 months (The results are phenomenal). In many cases the results can be better than those after surgery.
Use of PRP to Treat Osteoarthritis
In recent years chronic skeletal conditions are dealt with using biological as well as conventional medical therapies.
Osteoarthritis is characterized by sharp pain, dysfunction of the joints as well as disability. The use of painkillers and anti-inflammatory medicine constitutes a temporary solution and does not address the actual root of the problem. Furthermore, their use is accompanied by numerous side effects. In recent years the use of PRP (Platelet-Rich Plasma) has proven beneficial for the reduction of pain and the improvement of the function of a joint, a fact which can be ascertained through a scan or clinically. PRP is a blood by-product that is derived from the peripheral blood of the patient after it has been centrifuged to remove red blood cells. As it has a greater concentration of growth factors and anti-inflammatory properties than whole blood, it is injected into the joint to give a biological boost to the healing process. This method has been used and evaluated on large groups of patients and is considered to be a safe and effective treatment for osteoarthritis. It was applied on 22 patients suffering from osteoarthritis of the knee. A 30ml of blood sample was taken, processed accordingly and 6ml of the final PRP product was injected into the knee. All patients were monitored after 1,2,3,6 and 12 months and then evaluated via an MRI scan at the 12 month check. A year later the function of the knee joint was determined to be around 86% throughout all the tests.
According to a statement made by Professor of Medicine Mrs K. Kouzi-Koliakou.