Orthopedic surgeons and researchers meeting at the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons 2011 annual meeting in San Diego agree that platelet-rich plasma injections are an option for treating many orthopedic conditions, but the efficacy of the injection is unproven, according to an AAOS news release.
The organization's PRP Forum endorsed developing standards in the PRP manufacturing and called for the establishment of a study group to follow up on other recommendations. PRP injections are not all the same and the surgeon must be aware of how PRP works before using it to treat a patient, said Steven P. Arnoczky, DVM, in the release.
The PRP is concentrated, autologous preparation and development of the patient's own blood. Some concentrations may contain double the number of platelets while others might contain five or ten times the number of platelets. The proportion of white blood cells, growth factors and other compounds could also affect the injection. The variation in PRP composition has made it difficult for scientists to compare patient results.
Allen Mishra, MD, proposed a potential classification system for PRP based on the presence or absence of white blood cells, concentration of platelets and activation status. Many professional sports organizations have approved using PRP injections on athletes.
Read the AAOS release on platelet-rich plasma.
Read other coverage on PRP:
- PRP Use for Orthopedics: Updates and Standards From AAOS
- World Anti-Doping Agency Will Allow PRP for Athletes in 2011
- Dr. Jeffrey Traina: PRP After Total Knee Replacement Could Reduce Blood Loss
The organization's PRP Forum endorsed developing standards in the PRP manufacturing and called for the establishment of a study group to follow up on other recommendations. PRP injections are not all the same and the surgeon must be aware of how PRP works before using it to treat a patient, said Steven P. Arnoczky, DVM, in the release.
The PRP is concentrated, autologous preparation and development of the patient's own blood. Some concentrations may contain double the number of platelets while others might contain five or ten times the number of platelets. The proportion of white blood cells, growth factors and other compounds could also affect the injection. The variation in PRP composition has made it difficult for scientists to compare patient results.
Allen Mishra, MD, proposed a potential classification system for PRP based on the presence or absence of white blood cells, concentration of platelets and activation status. Many professional sports organizations have approved using PRP injections on athletes.
Read the AAOS release on platelet-rich plasma.
Read other coverage on PRP:
- PRP Use for Orthopedics: Updates and Standards From AAOS
- World Anti-Doping Agency Will Allow PRP for Athletes in 2011
- Dr. Jeffrey Traina: PRP After Total Knee Replacement Could Reduce Blood Loss