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When you add up the total cost of routine care you're not in any appreciable way cheaper than PRP.Co-pays and high deductible health plans basically leave patients functionally "cash pay" anyway.
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When you add up the total cost of routine care you're not in any appreciable way cheaper than PRP.Co-pays and high deductible health plans basically leave patients functionally "cash pay" anyway.
Medicine (Baltimore)
. 2021 Dec 23;100(51):e27878. doi: 10.1097/MD.0000000000027878.
A case report of ultrasound-guided knee nerve pulse radiofrequency combined with platelet-rich plasma in the treatment of knee osteoarthritis
Hui Jin 1, Hao Zuo 1, Rui Xu 2, Youbo Ji 1, Zhonghan Wang 3
Affiliations expand
PMID: 34941033 PMCID: PMC8702092 DOI: 10.1097/MD.0000000000027878
Free PMC article
Abstract
Rationable: Knee osteoarthritis (KOA) is a disease characterized by noninflammatory degenerative changes of articular cartilage. The main clinical manifestations are joint pain and stiffness. Pulsed radiofrequency (PRF) is thought to treat pain by destroying nerve tissue and changing the physical characteristics of nerve tissue membrane.
Patient concerns: The patients presents with joint pain and tenderness. Touching around the knee joint will induce pain and joint stiffness when the hand is pressed hard.
Interventions: Four patients with knee osteoarthritis underwent pulsed radiofrequency thermocoagulation in the knee joint cavity under ultrasound guidance and injected 2 mL of 10 mg/mL platelet-rich plasma into the joint cavity once a week for a total of 4 times. Record the patient's Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) score and the degree of knee movement limitation before treatment, 1, 3, and 6 months after treatment.
Diagnoses: Four patients with knee osteoarthritis.
Outcomes: After treatment, the patient's VAS score improved, and the knee joint mobility function recovered well. Ultrasound-guided knee nerve pulse radiofrequency combined with intra-articular injection of platelet-rich plasma can effectively improve the knee joint function and reduce the pain of the patient. The clinical effect is significant, and it is worthy of clinical application.
Copyright © 2021 the Author(s). Published by Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc.
Sorry but this is crap masquerading as research
okay. PRP helps with mild cases.
the patients were called some time after their injection. didnt even come back to the office. "hey buddy, how you doing after your shot a year or two ago?"
how does that compare to not doing anything? how does that compare to just exercises, or just splinting, or surgery?
i suspect that a randomized blinded study with a placebo group and a conservative treatment group would show similar results ie benefit, but it needs to be done to be a significant finding.
That's not data. That's advertising.View attachment 348883
37/39 RCTs of PRP for OA show it works...Do we have that data for DRG? Why do you still think PRP is experimental? It's proven.
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An Update on RCTs for Knee Osteoarthrtitis - Regenexx
Regenexx offers non-surgical, regenerative orthopedic treatment options for pain related to osteoarthritis, joint injuries, overuse conditions, spine pain, and common sports injuries.regenexx.com
That's not data. That's advertising.
Same crappy data you have posted over last few years. Poorly done studies, no matter how many you post- does not equate to better data. Just more junk to sift through making it GRADE lower and appear less useful as a treatment.Which part of the data do you dispute?
discussion is the point my scientifitic friendSame crappy data you have posted over last few years. Poorly done studies, no matter how many you post- does not equate to better data. Just more junk to sift through making it GRADE lower and appear less useful as a treatment.
if the individual studies that are linked there are the studies you have posted - a lot of them have insufficient data or conflicting results with each other. of course, they are cherry picked.
i randomly clicked on 2 studies:
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The efficiency of platelet-rich plasma treatment in patients with knee osteoarthritis - PubMed
PRP treatment had positive effects on the pain, physical function, and quality of life of patients with knee OA, but it did not increase cartilage thickness.pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
lets call the first study #1 and the second #2.![]()
MRI Changes After Platelet Rich Plasma Injection in Knee Osteoarthritis (Randomized Clinical Trial) - PubMed
In this study, in addition to the effect of PRP on VAS and WOMAC, there was a significant effect on radiologic characteristics (patellofemoral cartilage volume and synovitis). For further evaluation, a longer study with a larger sample size is recommended.pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
#1 - random. not blinded. 2 study groups, PRP group got 3 shots, nonPRP got saline 1 shot. studied out to 6 months. PRP group did get pain reduction and better WOMAC, but no change in cartilage thickness.
#2 - random and blinded. one group got PRP, the other got no injection. both knees got exercise/conservative treatment, so at least the comparison was against standard of care. in this study, PRP group got pain benefit, but also got no structural changes: "In PRP group, all of the radiologic variables (patellofemoral cartilage volume, synovitis and medial and lateral meniscal disintegrity), with the exception of subarticular bone marrow abnormality, had significant improvement."
so just randomly choosing 2 studies that were of course cherry picked for benefits in VAS and WOMAC (why else would you put them in this graph if you did not cherry pick the results), you have 1 study that was marginal at best in terms of study design, the other good in terms of study design, yet the two studies conflicted with whether there was improvement in the joint itself.
That's what we are doing here. Regenex ads touting their products and pointing to a bunch of crap studies is not inspiring evidence.discussion is the point my scientifitic friend
That's what we are doing here. Regenex ads touting their products and pointing to a bunch of crap studies is not inspiring evidence.
It's such a benign intervention with such a favorable benefit:risk ratio. It's not we're talking about a mass vaccination program for a mostly self-limited disease. How much data do you need to support shooting platelets into people?Same crappy data you have posted over last few years. Poorly done studies, no matter how many you post- does not equate to better data. Just more junk to sift through making it GRADE lower and appear less useful as a treatment.
When we can separate PRP from stem cells and shots for profits, there is hope.It's such a benign intervention with such a favorable benefit:risk ratio. It's not we're talking about a mass vaccination program for a mostly self-limited disease. How much data do you need to support shooting platelets into people?
false equivalency.It's such a benign intervention with such a favorable benefit:risk ratio. It's not we're talking about a mass vaccination program for a mostly self-limited disease. How much data do you need to support shooting platelets into people?
false equivalency.
please dont try to equate a disease that has caused 870,000 deaths with an ouchie in the knee.
i agree with lobel. a standardized method of obtaining the PRP, a standardized dose, and prospective double blinded non-industry sponsored study with clinically significant benefit that can be accepted by all.
View attachment 348949
let science decide. no more "well it didnt work because you didnt use MY kit."
Dying COVID + does not mean dying from COVID.please dont try to equate a disease that has caused 870,000 deaths with an ouchie in the knee.
If someone wants to pay out of pocket it is of course their prerogative. However, we should be performing scientifically verified treatments or we become no different from chiropractors or laser spine specialists.Dying COVID + does not mean dying from COVID.
Certain Dx are reliably treated with PRP and safer than corticosteroids. $650 for greater outcomes than CSI.
Not everyone should be offered PRP, but your avg 58 yo with knee or hip OA, supra or infraspinatus tendinopathy, chronic SIJ pain or tennis elbow should be offered PRP IMO - AFTER you do a CSI that provides significant but transient benefit.If someone wants to pay out of pocket it is of course their prerogative. However, we should be performing scientifically verified treatments or we become no different from chiropractors or laser spine specialists.
Also, I don't think taxpayers should be paying for treatments where there is inconclusive data and subsequent consensus about benefit, and where the treatment is utterly dependent on an individual's protoplasm, as drusso noted.
FYI the Covid deaths have been undercounted in the US.
Would you recommend it if it were $50?its not about me getting any injection.
personally, i wont get any injection, or surgery. well, other than an an ACL repair.
its about whether the science is appropriate such that we should be recommending these injections to those who can afford to pay.
i dont perform PRP, nor will i do so in the near future. partly due to patient population, partly due to admin, partly due to the lack of quality data for some of those listed conditions.
that doesnt mean that i dont suggest to patients see a particular provider or two who may talk to them about PRP for lateral epicondylitis.
its not about me getting any injection.
personally, i wont get any injection, or surgery. well, other than an an ACL repair.
its about whether the science is appropriate such that we should be recommending these injections to those who can afford to pay.
i dont perform PRP, nor will i do so in the near future. partly due to patient population, partly due to admin, partly due to the lack of quality data for some of those listed conditions.
that doesnt mean that i dont suggest to patients see a particular provider or two who may talk to them about PRP for lateral epicondylitis.
Would you recommend it for skin grafts? Because burn medicine and wound care has been using it for like 30 years...experimenting on patients, that is...its not about me getting any injection.
personally, i wont get any injection, or surgery. well, other than an an ACL repair.
its about whether the science is appropriate such that we should be recommending these injections to those who can afford to pay.
i dont perform PRP, nor will i do so in the near future. partly due to patient population, partly due to admin, partly due to the lack of quality data for some of those listed conditions.
that doesnt mean that i dont suggest to patients see a particular provider or two who may talk to them about PRP for lateral epicondylitis.
I bet those wound care centers have marketing teams and free dinners selling their care/caid patients on $800 add on prp.Would you recommend it for skin grafts? Because burn medicine and wound care has been using it for like 30 years...experimenting on patients, that is...
Wound Care.
2022 Jan 2;31(1):86-90.
doi: 10.12968/jowc.2022.31.1.86.
Application of autologous platelet-rich plasma to graft donor sites to reduce pain and promote healing
Samarth Gupta 1, Rakesh Kumar Jain 1
Affiliations expand
- PMID: 35077214
- DOI: 10.12968/jowc.2022.31.1.86
Abstract
Objective: Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) is widely used for wound healing in medical care because of the numerous growth factors it contains. Traditionally, donor sites are left to heal with a primary dressing so wounds are not left open. However, a delay in healing accompanied by pain at a donor site is often seen. This study primarily throws light on the use of autologous PRP over split-thickness skin graft (STSG) donor sites to promote healing and reduce pain.
Method: The patients enrolled in this study in 2018-2019 were divided into two groups: the intervention group received autologous PRP applied topically at the donor site; in the control group, the wound was dressed traditionally. Pain scales were measured in the immediate postoperative period at six hours, 10 hours and 16 hours. The dressing was opened on the postoperative day 14 and observed for healing by an independent observer.
Results: A total of 100 patients were included in the study. Patients in the PRP group showed statistically significant faster healing at postoperative day 14 compared with the control group (p<0.05), who required dressings for 3-4 weeks postoperatively. Pain scale scores in the postoperative period were significantly less in the PRP group at six hours postoperatively compared with the control group (p<0.05). There was a reduced incidence of hypertrophic scar formation in the small number of patients in the PRP group who had developed hypertrophic scar previously.
Conclusion: Application of PRP is a safe, cost-effective and easy method to achieve faster healing in graft donor site areas that are troublesome to both patients and doctors. It also reduces postoperative pain at donor sites. The authors recommend PRP is used more often in the management of donor sites for STSGs.
Keywords: PRP; STSG; autologous platelet-rich plasma; donor site; hypertrophic scar formation; platelet-rich plasma; split-thickness skin graft; wound; wound care; wound dressing; wound healing.
I bet those wound care centers have marketing teams and free dinners selling their care/caid patients on $800 add on prp.
Maybe tell your patients to try blow torch therapy to their knees and you can then send them for prp.The way I understand it is that, especially for burn centers, is that they're getting paid such a huge Vig on SOS/facility side that they're giving it away. It all gets bundled into some crazy reimbursement package--and because not every state has burn units, there's a lot of OON billing going on. The average cost for a moderate burn runs about $206,853, while a severe burn with no complications can cost seven figures, at $1,617,345. If there are complications, a burn can cost more than $10 million to treat.
It's not equitable that burn patients get endless runs through the PRP buffet for human experimentation therapy for free, but the middle-aged weekend warrior with sore knees has to pay to be experimented on with unproven therapies.
Sci Rep. 2021 Dec 8;11(1):23603. doi: 10.1038/s41598-021-03081-6.
Two or four injections of platelet-rich plasma for osteoarthritic knee did not change synovial biomarkers but similarly improved clinical outcomes
Srihatach Ngarmukos 1 2, Chotetawan Tanavalee 1 3, Chavarin Amarase 1 2, Suphattra Phakham 4, Warayapa Mingsiritham 1 2, Rangsima Reantragoon 1 5, Nitigorn Leearamwat 5, Thidarat Kongkaew 5, Kittipan Tharakhet 6, Sittisak Honsawek 1 4, Sinsuda Dechsupa 4, Aree Tanavalee 7 8
Affiliations expand
PMID: 34880370 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-03081-6
Abstract
We compared two and four intra-articular injections of platelet-rich plasma (PRP) in terms of changes of synovial cytokines and clinical outcomes. One hundred twenty-five patients having knee osteoarthritis (OA) underwent PRP injections at a 6-week interval. Before each PRP injection, synovial fluid aspiration was collected for investigation. Patients were divided into two or four intra-articular PRP injections (group A and B, respectively). Changes in synovial biomarkers were compared with the baseline levels of both groups, and clinical outcomes were evaluated until one year. Ninety-four patients who had completed synovial fluid collection were included for final evaluation, 51 in group A and 43 in group B. There were no differences in mean age, gender, body mass index (BMI), and radiographic OA grading. The average platelet count and white blood cell count in PRP were 430,000/µL and 200/ µL, respectively. There were no changes of synovial inflammatory cytokines (IL-1β, IL-6, IA-17A, and TNF-alpha), anti-inflammatory cytokines (IL-4, IL-10, IL-13, and IL-1RA), and growth factors (TGF-B1, VEGF, PDGF-AA, and PDGF-BB) between baseline levels and six weeks in group A, and 18 weeks in group B. Both groups had significantly improved clinical outcomes from six weeks including visual analog scale (VAS), patient-reported outcome measures [PROMs; Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis (WOMAC) Index and Short Form-12 (SF-12)], with a significant delayed improvement of performance-based measures [PBMs; time up and go (TUG), 5-time sit to stand test (5 × SST), and 3-min walk test (3-min WT)]. In conclusion, two- or four-PRP intra-articular injection at a 6-week interval for knee OA demonstrated no changes of synovial cytokines and growth factors but similarly improved clinical outcomes from 6 weeks until 1 year.
Multiple platelet-rich plasma injections are superior to single PRP injections or saline in osteoarthritis of the knee: the 2-year results of a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial
Alparslan Yurtbay 1, Ferhat Say 2, Hikmet Çinka 2, Ahmet Ersoy 2
Affiliations expand
PMID: 34705072 DOI: 10.1007/s00402-021-04230-2
Abstract
Introduction: The primary purposes of this study were to prove the efficacy of PRP injection therapy on knee pain and functions by comparing patients with mild to moderate OA with a placebo control group, and also to understand the effectiveness of multiple doses compared to a single dose. It was hypothesized that PRP would lead to more favorable results than the placebo at 1, 3, 6, 12 and 24 months after treatment.
Materials and methods: 237 patients diagnosed with OA were randomly separated into 4 groups, who were administered the following: single dose of PRP (n: 62), single dose of sodium saline (NS) (n: 59), three doses of PRP (n: 63), and three doses of NS (n: 53). Clinical evaluations were made pre-treatment and at 1, 3, 6, 12 and 24 months post-treatment, using the Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Result Score (KOOS), Kujala Patellofemoral Score, knee joint range of motion (ROM), measurements of knee circumference (KC), and mechanical axis angle (MAA) and a Visual Analog Scale (VAS) for the evaluation of pain.
Results: The better score values in the groups were recorded at 3 and 6 months. Patients treated with PRP maintained better scores at 3, 6 and 12 months compared to the NS groups (p < 0.05). Multiple doses of PRP were seen to be more effective than single-dose PRP at 6 and 12 months (p < 0.05). At the end of 24 months, there was no significant score difference across all the groups. The most positive change in scores was found in stage 2 OA, and the most positive change in ROM was in stage 3 OA patients. In the PRP groups, KC decreased more at 1 and 6 months (p < 0.05). Compared to other age groups, patients aged 51-65 years scored better at 6 months (p < 0.05). A negative correlation was determined with MAA scores (r = - 0.508, p < 0.001).
Conclusion: In comparison to the placebo (NS), leukocyte-rich PRP treatment was determined to be effective in the treatment of OA. Multiple doses of PRP increase the treatment efficacy and duration. Of all the patients treated with PRP, the best results were obtained by patients aged 51-65 years, with lower MAA, and by K/L stage 2 OA patients.
...and don't forget to order PT too...J Orthop. 2022 Jan 19;29:31-37. doi: 10.1016/j.jor.2022.01.003. eCollection Jan-Feb 2022.
Consecutive injections of leukocyte-rich platelet-rich plasma are effective in not only mild but also severe knee degeneration
Masahiko Kemmochi 1
Affiliations expand
PMID: 35115742 PMCID: PMC8790296 (available on 2023-01-01) DOI: 10.1016/j.jor.2022.01.003
Abstract
Introduction: How can non-cultured platelet-rich plasma (PRP) therapy be the ultimate intervention in the treatment of total knee arthroplasty (TKA) -adaptive levels of knee osteoarthritis, as opposed to stem cell therapy that requires culture?
Methods: An intra-articular injection of leukocyte-rich PRP (LR-PRP) was administered to 260 patients every 4 weeks for over four times (mean 5.8 times); they were followed up for a maximum of 24 months. The clinical evaluation used the Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score, visual analogue scale, and magnetic resonance imaging osteoarthritis knee score-body mass lesions to determine the therapeutic effect using the Outcome Measures in Rheumatology-Osteoarthritis Research Society International responder criteria for osteoarthritis.
Results: Among those administered with LR-PRP, the responder rate was 72.0%, 78.1%, 78.1%, and 77.1% at 3, 6, 12, and 24 months, respectively.
Conclusions: Our manually prepared LR-PRP was effective following multiple consecutive injections, despite severe degeneration.
Keywords: Bone marrow lesion; Bone marrow lesion, BML; Consecutive injection; Leukocyte-rich platelet-rich plasma; Leukocyte-rich platelet-rich plasma, LR-PRP; Magnetic resonance imaging knee osteoarthritis knee score; Magnetic resonance imaging, MRI; Outcome Measures in rheumatology-osteoarthritis research society international; Outcome Measures in rheumatology-osteoarthritis research society international, OMERACT-OARSI; Severe degeneration; total knee arthroplasty, TKA.
© 2022 The Author. Published by Elsevier B.V. on behalf of Professor P K Surendran Memorial Education Foundation.
Agree.I feel like we’ve been basically doing the same thing in interventional pain for decades with the exception of some new innovative neuromodulatory and neurodestructive procedures. I wish we had good regenerative options for annular tears and painful degenerative discs. I also have patients ask me all the time about nutritional supplements and other options to “heal the disc”. It’s depressing that after all these years we got nothing. I know chiros recommend bone broth, chondroitin/glucosamine, collagen peptides etc. it makes sense as these are the building blocks of the various proteoglycans that constitute the annulus and nucleus. I’m not aware of any studies looking at diet and nutritional intake in regards to spine health. I think we gotta find better options than steroids, ablation and fusion
ILESI cannot be relied to consistently reach the disc. TFESI doesn't cover the central third of the disc, which is where most annular tears are located.Why caudal vs IL or TF? Do you think you get better ventral spread, or safety?
Also, what volume are you using? Dependent on what disc you're trying to reach?
Never thought about caudal approach for these. Thanks for the tipILESI cannot be relied to consistently reach the disc. TFESI doesn't cover the central third of the disc, which is where most annular tears are located.
If someone has a lateral annular tear then yes I do TFESI with PRP instead of caudal. Volume depends on the level.
Well, that's terrible.
I don't inject enough contrast on caudals to see if it's going ventral or dorsal. Do you have pics? Or any literature of ventral spread rates? I have heard this from Dr. Lutz as well.ILESI cannot be relied to consistently reach the disc. TFESI doesn't cover the central third of the disc, which is where most annular tears are located.
If someone has a lateral annular tear then yes I do TFESI with PRP instead of caudal. Volume depends on the level.
You must have that magic touch.Agree.
I have been doing caudal PRP for patients with annular tears the past three years. 75% of the patients achieve 70% relief. I only do this after they had good but brief relief after standard ESI and the facets have been ruled out with negative MBB. I stress to the patients beforehand that only 3/4 respond to the PRP. The 75% that do respond are really happy as generally nothing else has ever truly helped them.
I've done far fewer of these for patients with disc modic changes (not annular tears), and my results are definitely not as impressive, 40-50% achieve 50% relief.
I think that caudal PRP holds great promise for lumbar annular tears because the disc is mostly healthy and just needs some help to close up, similar to partially damaged tendon, which do great with PRP.
However, PRP for severely degenerated discs, is similar to PRP for severely degenerated joints. PRP is just not enough to undo the severe damage.
For true discogenic pain, particularly with Modic changes, if they fail everything else including a good core program, all non opioid meds, etc, I offer PRP with major caveats about how often it works, and then I refer them out for Intracept, as it doesn't make sense for me financially, but it might help the patient.
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