Autologous blood therapy in Orthopaedics

Autologous blood therapy with Enriched thrombocyte Plasma (Platelet rich Plasma = PRP) in Orthopedics.

In the development of orthopedic diseases Zytokines play an important role. Zytokines (also: Cytokines) are glykoproteines, which regulate the growth, the proliferation and the differentiation of cells. Some Zytokines are growth factors, others act as messenger substances for immunological reactions. For many orthopedic diseases the balance between the specific Zytokines (Interleukin-1= IL-1 Type 1 and 2) and the Interleukin-1-Receptorantagonist (IL-1Ra) is disturbed. In case of degenerative diseases one assumes, the local IL-1Ra-concentration is too low for inhibiting the destruction of cartilage, muscles, spinal tissue and other (joint-)structures. For an effektive blockade of all available IL-1-Rezeptoren or inhibition of all effects triggered by IL-1 10- to 1.000 times more IL-1Ra than IL-1 must be present. The IL-1Ra and the growth factors are gained from thrombozyte enriched Plasma (Platelet Rich Plasma = PRP). PRP is a natural Thrombozyte conzentrate, which is gained from the plasma part of autologous blood by mechanical separation as a rule by zentrifugation. Here the concentration thrombozytes is significantly raised over the base value.

PRP can

  • activate respectively develop the tissue-specific and the self-healing powers of your body
  • accelerate the process of the already existing self healing-powers in your body and intensifying their effects
  • activate this self-healing reaction exclusively with your body’s substances
  • and thus affecting positively the self-healing processes in the tissue of your body

 

Course of autologous blood therapy

A small amount of blood (10 ml) is taken from a vein in your arm in the same way as for a blood test. A special technique (centrifuge) is then used to separate out the part of the blood containing autologous (i.e., occurring naturally in the body) regenerative (healing) components which inhibit osteoarthritis. The natural solution obtained in this way is then injected into the affected joint under sterile conditions, thus offering the greatest possible level of safety. The effect: as soon as the thrombocytes are activated outside the bloodstream, they release growth factors. The plasma gained by this procedure is injected in the affected areas of the body and the natural healing processes are activated and accelerated.

Increase of Thrombozytes in Plasma

 

 Scientific studies revealed, that the PRP procedure increases the concentration especially of the following 7 growth factors:

  • PDGF-ab (Platelet Derived Growth Factor): more than 25-x higher
  • EGF (Epidermal Growth Factor), VEGF (Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor) and PDGF-bb: 5 – 11 x higher
  • IGF-1(Insulin-like Growth Factor), TGF-b1 and –b2 (Transforming Growth Factor): up to a mximum of 5 x.

Application

By using concentrated blood growth factor healing and build-up processes among others in the damaged bone, joint cartilage, tendons and/or ligaments can be activated. First clinical results show significant improvements concerning the mobilitity in case of a preexisting restriction of motion with a simultaneous reduction of pain.

Indications

Tendinious inflammations, as for example the “Tenn

  • Localised cartilagenous damages e.g. the Osteochondrosis dissecans
  • Bone fractures
  • Muscle injuries
  • Tendonitis, such as tennis elbow, golfer’s elbow, patellar tendonitis or Achilles tendon pain.

No performance in case of infection or immunodeficiency!!

In Pediatric Orthopedics as well as in Pediatric Dentistry PRP is used for an accelerated bone healing after removal of bone cysts followed by filling of bone defects. Numerous studies show, that PRP is an effective therapy for bone and cartilagenous lesions causing a low rate of complications and being available everywhere and cost-effective.