Platelet Rich Plasma Therapy (PRP)
Platelet Rich Plasma Therapy (PRP) is an emerging specialty in health care called "Orthobiologics". With PRP, physicians utilize cutting-edge technology with nature to accelerate healing of many types of orthopedic injuries. If you suffer from arthritis, an injured ligament or tendon injury, and traditional methods have not provided relief, then PRP may be the solution. The procedure is less aggressive and less expensive than surgery. It will heal tissue with minimal or no scarring and alleviate further degeneration of the tissues, all without subjecting the patient to risks associated with surgery or prolonged drug therapy. Current research shows that platelets are a specialized blood cell found within blood plasma which contains bioactive proteins, including growth factor and even a small amount of stem cells. Growth factor plays a key role in activating and accelerating the healing of soft tissue injuries at the reparative cell level.
 In PRP, a small amount of blood is taken from the patient, which is then processed to yield a high concentrate of platelets. The concentrated platelets are then removed and injected into the damaged soft tissue, resulting in 500% more platelets and growth factor at the injury site then would occur naturally. This, accelerates connective tissue repair and regeneration, and thereby restores patients to pre-injury pain levels and increased function. Most patients will require 1-3 injections at 2-4 week intervals and patients are encouraged to participate in physical therapy to enhance the rehabilitative process. The procedure takes under an hour, including preparation and recovery time. It can be performed safely in the office under ultrasound guidance, without the risks of surgery, general anesthesia, or hospital stays and without a prolonged recovery. In fact, most people return to their jobs or usual activities right after the procedure. Both ultrasound and MRI images have shown definitive tissue repair after PRP therapy, confirming the healing process. The need for surgery can also be greatly reduced by treating injured tissues before the damage progresses and the condition is irreversible. There are hundreds of research articles published on the safety of PRP. Because your own blood is used, there is no risk of a transmissible infection and a very low risk of allergic reaction.
Conditions commonly treated by Platelet Rich Plasma Therapy:
Tennis elbow/Golfer's Elbow
Rotator cuff tendonitis/bursitis
Arthritic hip/knee/ankle/shoulder conditions
Plantar Fasciitis/ heel spur pain
Meniscus injury of the knee
Chronic tendonitis
Chronic pain
This is not an all inclusive list, if your condition is not listed call the office to talk with one of our doctors.
Recent news headlines have featured the amazing results that professional athletes have experienced with PRP. Professional football players Hines Ward and Troy Polamalu of the Pittsburgh Steelers received PRP after injuries that should have side-lined them for months, but they returned to play in a matter of weeks, winning the Super Bowl. Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Takashi Saito received PRP for an elbow condition and returned to play in just a few months, versus up to 14 months that recovery from surgery would have taken.
Dr. Ajay Kumar is one of the few medical physicians in New Jersey who are trained in PRP and have performed procedures for many orthopedic injuries. Dr. Kumar is Board Certified in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation and is also a Diplomat of the American Board of Pain Management Physicians. Platelet Rich Plasma, in conjunction with a physical therapy has proven to be very effective, conservative treatment option for patient that have "failed" traditional medical treatment or are looking for a non-pharmaceutical/non-surgical treatment option. Call 908-756-2424 for initial evaluation with one of our Medical doctors to see if PRP is right for you.
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