Regenerative Medicine Using PRP Works- Infographics of 2024 Clinical Studies Confirm That

Summarize: PRP is a popular and safe method frequently used in regenerative medicine to manage a range of health conditions like knee OA, carpal tunnel syndrome, lumbar pain, plantar fasciitis, and more. But does it work? A new infographic created by Chris Centeno, CMO at Regenexx, shows that PRP is better and more effective than many commonly used treatments.

Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) therapy is a medical treatment that uses a patient’s own blood to promote healing and tissue regeneration. It is a concentrate containing platelets and numerous growth factors known to promote healing.

The PRP procedure begins with a blood draw, similar to a routine blood test. The collected blood is then placed in a centrifuge, which spins it at high speeds to separate its components. This process isolates the platelet-rich plasma from other blood elements, resulting in a concentrated solution rich in platelets. The PRP is then prepared for injection into the targeted area of the patient’s body, such as a painful knee, other joints, and more.

Administering PRP involves injecting the concentrated platelet-rich plasma into the injured or affected tissue. The high concentration of platelets releases growth factors and other bioactive proteins that stimulate cell proliferation, tissue repair, and the formation of new blood vessels. This accelerates the body’s natural healing processes and enhances tissue regeneration.

PRP therapy is used to treat various conditions due to its healing properties. In orthopedics, it is commonly employed for managing chronic tendon injuries, such as tennis elbow, Achilles tendonitis, and rotator cuff tears.

PRP has also shown effectiveness in treating acute sports injuries, including ligament and muscle strains.

In dermatology, PRP is used for facial rejuvenation, improving skin texture, and reducing wrinkles and scars.

Furthermore, PRP therapy has gained traction in treating osteoarthritis by reducing inflammation and promoting cartilage repair in affected joints. It is also explored in surgical settings to enhance wound healing and reduce recovery times.

The minimally invasive nature of PRP, combined with its use of autologous (patient-derived) blood, minimizes the risk of allergic reactions and infections. However, the effectiveness of PRP can vary based on the condition being treated and the individual patient’s response.

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Since its use is so widespread, the question is, does it work? Is there a clinical evidence?

It is said that a picture is worth thousands of words. Chris Centeno, Chief Medical Officer (CMO) at Regenexx, has done an incredible job of creating excellent infographics summarizing all studies done in 2024 using PRP.

If we look at the picture, we can clearly see that more than 90% of studies found that PRP is quite effective. It is better for pain relief and tissue regeneration in various conditions like knee OA, hip OA, carpal tunnel syndrome, and more.

In fact, only 12 studies found that PRP was not effective. The author of the infographics noted that most studies that did not find PRP effective used the wrong way to carry out the therapy. Those studies did not use true PRP therapy. Even if we consider those sub-par studies, the picture still shows that PRP is effective in more than 90% of the cases.

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Figure 1 All studies using PRP to treat various health conditions (Blue circles show studies in which PRP was better than other treatments, and red are circles in which it wasn’t)

Of course, these infographics might not be perfect, as the author noted that many people might say that there is no comparison between PRP and surgical treatments. Nevertheless, these limitations do not reduce the value of this image. It clearly shows that PRP is better than many commonly used medical treatments for chronic pains, inflammatory and degenerative conditions, and it may also help prevent surgeries.

Source:

MD, C. C. (2024, July 9). My 2024 PRP RCT Infographic. Regenexx. https://regenexx.com/blog/my-2024-prp-rct-infographic/

Gurpreet Singh Padda, MD, MBA, MHP