Platelet-rich plasma injection therapy a new form of regenerative medicine.
What is PRP injection?
PRP – is platelet-rich plasma which is extracted from patient´s own blood. In part of the blood called plasma the platelets are concentrated using centrifuge to 8 time higher concentration than in normal blood. Platelets – small cells present in the blood and responsible for the blood clotting are injected to the facet joints or discs in the spine. The platelets cells contain large amount of growth factors which have potential to regenerate damaged tissue in our body. The PRP injections can reduce significantly low back pain and the need for pain medication and physiotherapy.
The PRP treatment is an effective and well-researched treatment option for patients with low back pain caused by aging of the spine. It has potential to decrease pain in the spine but also to improve flexibility and function. Patients may see already improvement of low back pain after 4 to 6 weeks of performed first injection. Usually, 2-3 injections are performed weekly to achieve desired effect. PRP injections is a safe option of treatment for low back pain and aging of lower back.
What are facet joints in our spine?
What is facet joint aging/degeneration/ syndrome/ osteoarthritis.
Typical symptoms of facet joint aging/degeneration.
Scientific data from the literature
supporting usage of PRP injections
for low back pain.
Wu et al. investigated the effect of treatment with PRP injection on pain in lower back by patients with facet joint degeneration/aging. The PRP injections has been performed using fluoroscopic guidance (X-ray machine) and the pain in lower back has been evaluated at different time points – right after the injection, 1 week later, 1 month, 2 months and 3 months later.
The pain decreased significantly one week after the injection as compared to pain before injection.
In general, the pain improvement was as follows – excellent pain improvement – percentage of the patients at different time points, 14 patients (73.68%) at one week, 15 patients (78.95%) at one month, 15 patients (78.95%) at 2 months, and 15 patients (78.95%) at 3 months.
