Platelet- Rich Plasma (PRP) Therapy in the Treatment of Knee Osteoarthritis: Is the combination of Hyaluronic Acid (HA) & PRP more effective?
?? Lance Liberti, MBA
I Help ??Physicians & ?? Healthcare Clinics ?? Increase Patient Outcomes & ?? Add More Revenue, Without ?? Drugs By Adding Office-Based ?? Injection Procedures to Their Practice [email protected]
Knee osteoarthritis (KOA) is the most common degenerative disease of the joints caused by cartilage injury and degradation of the joint. Some of the various treatments that are commonly used to alleviate the symptoms of KOA include NSAIDs, corticosteroid injections and, in the worst cases, knee replacement surgery. Although these methods were once believed to be the best course of treatment for those suffering from KOA, regenerative medicine has introduced new and improved options that reduce both pain and risk for the patient, while creating greater internal practice revenue for physicians and clinic owners.
Platelet-rich plasma, or PRP for short, may appear like a recent medical breakthrough but has actually been utilized successfully for some time, with its application in dermatology increasing in recent years. The magic of PRP lies within growth factors that trigger cell regeneration and stimulate tissue formation in the treated area (called “angiogenesis” and “proliferation”). ?Additionally, PRP is extremely safe as it comes directly from the patient themselves (called an “autologous therapy”) and therefore has minimal risk. Because of these properties, PRP has emerged as a safe and viable treatment method for individuals suffering from KOA.[1] Current research demonstrates that PRP has the ability to repair articular cartilage injuries in patients with joint disease by removing harmful inflammatory factors with little to no adverse effects.[2] A study from the Journal of Orthopedic Surgery and Research found that, when compared to corticosteroid injections, PRP was the superior choice in improving knee function.
“After 15 weeks of follow-up, the PRP group showed significative improvements in all scores when compared to the CS group. Overall, the patients who received PRP treatment had better outcomes in a longer follow-up visit (up to 1 year) than those who received CS.”[3] (More on this here .)
When it comes to KOA, treatment focuses on relieving pain and stiffness, improving joint function, improving quality of life, correcting deformities in the joint, and delaying or avoiding the need for total knee arthroplasty.[2] Several case studies have shown positive results of intra-articular PRP injections in patients suffering from symptoms of KOA. However, other studies have found that the combination of hyaluronic acid (HA) and PRP can improve pain and function in patients, even more! A meta-analysis from BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders found that PRP combined with HA at 6 months after treatment was superior to PRP alone, which suggests that PRP combined with HA may be an even better treatment for patients with long-term knee pain.[4]
There is an outpatient procedure called?The Advanced Arthritis Relief Protocol? ;?that combines both intra-articular injections of platelet- rich plasma and hyaluronic acid to increase joint space, reduce friction, and stop the mechanical destruction of cartilage within the knee. This is combined with a PDAC approved unloading knee brace to relieve pain and improve function, as well as a comprehensive physical therapy program to reduce ligament laxity and return stability to the joint. In a randomized clinical trial of 384 patients, all but one experienced some relief, and 92.7% experienced a 50% or greater reduction of pain and improvement in ADL function in a single course of treatment! In addition to its enhanced effectiveness and reduced risks,?The Advanced Arthritis Relief Protocol? ?is covered by most major insurance plans including Medicare and yields?an average case fee of over $9,000 at Medicare’s average allowable fee schedule .
To learn more about how adding this protocol to your practice can provide alternatives to legacy treatment options while increasing clinical outcomes, reducing risk, and adding substantial profits schedule a risk-free introductory webinar?here ?or call (855) 854-6332 today!
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