It is a branch that develops methods to regrow, repair or replace damaged or diseased cells or tissues. The field of regenerative medicine has widely increased recently and focusses numerous strategies to improve the body’s innate immune response. It is in particular interest in sports injuries especially in soft tissue injuries [ like tendon and ligament] and conditions like arthritis. Platelet rich Plasma(PRP) or interleukin rich plasma, Bone marrow aspiration cells, adipose tissue stem cells etc. play an important role in tissue healing and regeneration.
Platelets are normal components of the blood which can produce growth factors and other proteins that regulate cell multiplication, stimulate tissue regeneration and promote healing. So a high concentration of platelets in plasma [PRP] when injected into the area of tissue injury it accelerates the healing process.

What is Platelet rich Plasma Injection Therapy or Regenerative injection?

It is an injection procedure used in soft tissue injuries/osteoarthritis using patient’s own blood to promote healing.

Patients own blood sample is collected and centrifuged in sterile condition to get a plasma with high concentration of platelets. When this Platelet rich Plasma is injected in to the specific area of tissue damage, they secrete substances called growth factors and other proteins that regulate cell division and stimulate tissue generation and promotes healing.

How is it different from steroid injection?

Myth:  Many believe PRP is similar to steroid injection

Fact:  Steroid reduces inflammation and good pain relief. But it has no role in healing. Steroid in fact eventually suppress the body's natural healing mechanism. So it's not advisable to take steroid injections frequently.

PRP:  Not just like cortisone. It brings up healing by promoting inflammation around damaged tissue.For this reason ,pain is not reduced or may be aggravated in some people for a short while which is a part of tissue healing so the pain is to be controlled with specific medications which donot interfere with healing.

Procedure:

It is usually done an outpatient setup under sterile precautions.
PRP injections usually needs to be repeated.The frequency being dependent on the degree of the injury.

Why PRP should be injected under ultrasound guidance?

The PRP derived from patient's blood sample is very low in volume (as much as 3 ml approximately. this product has to be delivered at the specific area of muscle tear to give you the best result. Blend injections will not ensure the exact site of the PRP blood delivery which is not justified considering the effort and cost. I use ultrasound imaging during the procedure which has no hazards of radiation along with good visualization of the musculoskeletal system and muscle tear.This ensures me the best results for the procedure.