Degenerative knee joint disease
It is a health problem met often in the Thai population, particularly in the group of older people aged more than 60 years. From study it has been found that more than 50% of older people in Thailand are facing the problem of a degenerative knee joint. Besides this, the problem of a degenerative knee joint is beginning to be found in groups of younger people more and more, particularly in the group who use the knee joint heavily, such as athletes, or those who are overweight. In this article Pyong Rehab Clinic invites everyone to become acquainted with the PRP injection for a degenerative knee joint, the injection of platelets to treat a degenerative knee without needing surgery. Let us see what its advantages are.
Degenerative knee joint disease
A degenerative knee joint is a state that arises from the degeneration of the cartilage in the knee joint, which causes friction between the upper and the lower leg bones, resulting in pain, swelling, inflammation, or a stiff joint. This degeneration usually arises from using the knee joint for a long time, such as in the group of older people, or those who have a heavy body weight, or even athletes who have to use the knee joint in heavy activities.
How does the injection of platelets treat a degenerative knee
The injection of platelets to treat a degenerative knee (Activated Purified Platelet-Rich Plasma, or PRP) is a method that uses concentrated platelets from the patient's own blood, in order to help in restoring the tissue that has been damaged, because in AP-PRP platelets there are components of Growth Factor that help stimulate the process of repairing the tissue that has been damaged, at a higher concentration than usual, which helps increase the effectiveness in restoring the knee joint, particularly in the part of the cartilage that has degenerated. This injection of platelets will help stimulate the process of repairing the knee joint, reduce inflammation, and relieve the pain that arises from the degenerative knee joint.
The steps in the AP-PRP injection for a degenerative knee joint
Treatment with AP-PRP for a degenerative knee joint is a process that is not complicated. It can be done in outpatients and does not take long. It consists of the following main steps.
Drawing the blood
The doctor will begin by drawing about 15-60 millilitres of blood from the patient, using special blood collection tubes designed specifically for doing AP-PRP. These tubes have an anticoagulant and a separating gel that helps in separating the platelets from the other components effectively.
Spinning the blood
The blood drawn will be taken to be spun and separated with a high-speed centrifuge designed specifically for doing AP-PRP for a degenerative knee joint, using a suitable speed and time, in order to separate the platelets from the red blood cells and the other components, so that platelets of high concentration and good quality are obtained.
Injecting the AP-PRP
After the concentrated platelets have been obtained, the doctor will carry out the injection of platelets to treat the degenerative knee, injecting them directly into the knee joint that has the problem, using an aseptic technique. The AP-PRP injection for a degenerative knee joint will be done under the guidance of an ultrasound machine for precision in the injection. The patient may feel slightly uncomfortable during the injection, but the symptoms will improve within a few days.
What is good about the AP-PRP injection for a degenerative knee joint
The AP-PRP injection for a degenerative knee joint helps reduce pain and inflammation, particularly in being a method of treatment that uses tissue from the patient's own body, so that it has a high level of safety and reduces the risk of an allergic reaction arising. Besides this it is also a treatment that does not require surgery, so that no scar arises and recovery is quick. Besides the injection of platelets to treat a degenerative knee, PRP can also be used in treating injuries of the tendons and the muscles, as well as restoring wounds, and injuries of the muscles that have a problem as well.
Which stage of a degenerative knee does the AP-PRP injection suit?
The AP-PRP injection for a degenerative knee joint suits those who have a degenerative knee joint in the initial to the moderate stage, particularly those who have not yet reached the point of needing surgery or an artificial knee joint. Patients who are injected with AP-PRP will have a high level of effectiveness in relieving the pain and the inflammation, as well as helping slow the degeneration of the knee joint. However, for patients who have symptoms of a degenerative knee in the severe stage, it may be necessary to consider other choices of treatment as suitable.
Who suits the injection of platelets to treat a degenerative knee
- Those who have chronic knee pain from degenerative knee joint disease in the initial to the moderate stage
- Those who want a choice of treatment that does not require surgery
- Athletes or those who have injuries of the tendons and the muscles in the area of the knee
- Those who have knee pain from work or from activities that require heavy use of the knee joint
- Those for whom treatment by other methods has not given as good a result as it should
- Those who want to postpone surgery to replace the knee joint
What should be known before the injection of platelets to treat a degenerative knee
Although the AP-PRP injection for a degenerative knee joint is a method of treatment with a high level of safety, there are some matters that should be considered. The patient may have pain or swelling in the area of the injection during the first 2-3 days, which is a normal symptom and will improve by itself. Besides this, this treatment may not suit those who have a blood disease, those who are receiving anticoagulant medicines, or those who have an infection in the area where the injection is to be done. For some patients who do not suit the AP-PRP injection, there are still other choices of treatment that can help relieve the symptoms and slow the degeneration of the knee joint, such as Prolotherapy injection (concentrated glucose in order to stimulate the repair of the tissue), the injection of artificial joint fluid (Hyaluronic Acid) in order to help lubricate the joint and reduce inflammation, or the injection of Atelocollagen, which is a Biostimulator, in order to stimulate the creation of collagen in the knee joint. At PYONG Rehabilitation Clinic we have treatment in every form, and the doctor will assess the symptoms and choose the form of treatment most suitable for each patient.