Italian Study Endorses the Use of Platelet Rich Plasma for Tissue Regeneration in Degenerative Disorders of the Knee
October 27, 2012
A new study out of Italy recently published in Blood Transfusion outlines the benefits of platelet-derived growth factors for improving tissue regeneration in the field of non-surgical orthopedic care.
Twenty-seven patients, aged between 18 and 81 years, with a diagnosis of degenerative joint disease lasting for more than 1 year were treated. The patients were divided into two groups, one with arthritis of the knee, the other with degenerative cartilage disease of the knee. Both groups were treated with a cycle of three platelet-rich plasma injections at weekly intervals.
Pain rating scales were used before treatment, 7 days after treatment, and again 6 months after treatment. Both groups improved after the initial treatment and there was a further improvement after 6 months of follow-up.
The study references Dr. Steven Sampson’s pilot trial on PRP for knee arthritis. Our practice offers a nearly identical protocol which utilizes a swiss based PRP device to isolate the platelets.
Again and again, we see the benefits of platelet rich plasma for a multitude of degenerative joint conditions endorsed by research studies from all over the world!