Platelet Rich Plasma is a blood preparation where the red blood cells have been stripped out but the remaining plasma is rich in platelets.
How is platelet rich plasma prepared?
Blood is taken from a vein in the common way and then spun in a centrfuge to concentrate the blook components into layers - the platelet layer is then withdrawn within a small volume of plasma. It is then reinjected into the knee (or other joint) or made into a preparation in combination with other orthobiologic materials and placed into the cartilage defect.
How useful is platelet rich plasma?
Unfortunately the literature is controversial as the efficacy appears to depend upon the way the platelet rich plasma is prepared and used.
CLINICAL PUBLICATIONS
Biology of platelet-rich plasma and its clinical application in cartilage repair. Xie X, Zhang C and Tuan RS. Arthritis Res Ther. 2014; 16(1): 204.
New and Emerging Strategies in Platelet-Rich Plasma Application in Musculoskeletal Regenerative Procedures: General Overview on Still Open Questions and Outlook. Salamanna F, Francesca Veronesi F, Maglio M, Della Bella E, Sartori M and Fini M. Biomed Res Int. 2015; 2015: 846045.