Level One Two Year Follow Up Paper Supports Use of Platelet Rich Plasma for Tennis Elbow

Dr. Taco Gosens and his team from the Netherlands have just published in the American Journal of Sports Medicine the best paper to date on the use of platelet rich plasma for tennis elbow.  Using the Biomet GPS device to create platelet rich plasma (Type 1A PRP in Mishra's classification system of PRP), they found PRP patients were successfully treated more often than patients treated with corticosteroid injections at two year follow up.  This was highly statistically significant at a p value of < 0.0001. 
Read the entire abstract here.

This paper confirms that a specific type of PRP is better than the often used cortisone injection for chronic lateral epicondylar tendinopathy.  This team of researchers also needs to be congratulated on finishing this important work. 

AM
Total Tendon
http://www.twitter.com/bloodcure

Platelet Rich Plasma used to treat Nadal's Knees

 
It appears as if Nadal has had his creaky knees treated with platelet rich plasma.  He has described it himself but only incompletely.  What we do not know is what type of PRP was used,  how it was injected and how he is being treated after the procedure.  These are all critical issues.  Presently, PRP with platelet concentrations around 5x baseline combined with concentrated white blood cells has the best published data supporting its use. 

It is clear that Nadal has chronic, severe tendonitis also know as tendinopathy.  It will help all of us who are studying how to best use PRP we knew more about his specific treatment.  Does anyone out there know any of the details?

AM
Total Tendon

Ultrasound and Platelet Rich Plasma

 

Ultrasound of a Partial Elbow Extensor Tendon Tear

Ultrasound is a powerful non-invasive tool to evaluate soft tissue.  It can be especially helpful when imaging tendons.   Platelet rich plasma has been used extensively in tendinopathy and I believe ultrasound could provide an objective endpoint for future studies.  The size of the lesion could be measured before and after treatment.  Calculation of reduction of the pathologic hypoechogenic area could then be made.  We are beginning to evaluate a variety of ways to use ultrasound and would welcome any questions, comments or suggestions. 

AM
Total Tendon

HalfDome.TV

Platelet Rich Plasma Wins!

In our informal survey of best names, "Platelet Rich Plasma" won with 61% of the vote with "PRP" taking 22%, "Platelet Gel" 8% and "Platelet Enriched Plasma and Growth Factors" 4% each. With a total of 83% of the votes, Platelet Rich Plasma/PRP wins in a landslide.

I propose we end the argument of what to name it and begin to define it in studies moving forward. The landscape of PRP is scattered at best. In order to figure out how best to use this important tool, we must agree on what we are talking about. Please see the post below for a definition that is published in the literature.

I am repeating the survey of what machine producing the best PRP. I'll post the results in a month.

Total Tendon

Apex PRP.com