Which is a Better Option: PRP or Gel?

This is a common question encountered in my daily clinical practice.  A recent publication in Arthroscopy: The Journal of Arthroscopic and Related Surgery provides an up-to-date evidence-based answer.

For patients with chronic pain due to rotator cuff tendinopathy, current clinical evidence suggests PRP may lead to greater long-term improvement in pain and function compared to corticosteroid injection.

Endeavor Health (formerly known as NorthShore University HealthSystem) recently detailed the success story of one of Dr. Verma’s patients who underwent the Tenex procedure for hip (gluteal) tendinitis in its HealthyEndeavors blog post.

Endeavor Health (formerly known as NorthShore University HealthSystem) recently detailed the success story of one of Dr. Verma’s patients who underwent PRP injection for a hamstring injury in its HealthyYou blog post.

We have learned that surgery may not be an effective long-term treatment for degenerative meniscus tears. Therefore patients who have not responded to physical therapy and bracing may fall into a treatment gap in which seemingly no evidence-based options exist.

Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) is a treatment which is gaining evidence and may fill the aforementioned gap for the treatment of degenerative meniscus tears.

Gluteal tendinopathy is a chronic degenerative change in the lateral (outside) part of the hip caused by a repetitive cycle of microtrauma and improper healing.

Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) is a treatment that uses the body’s own platelets to promote healing of damaged or diseased tissues. PRP has a concentrated complex of growth factors which, when delivered to an area of injury, can stimulate improvement in pain and function.

Injections are a common part of treatment plans in orthopaedics and sports medicine, providing therapeutic relief of pain and improvement in function. Furthermore, injections may be used as a diagnostic tool to guide treatment.

While the first report of the use of diagnostic ultrasound for musculoskeletal purposes dates to the 1950’s (Dussik et al., 1958), its use within orthopaedics has accelerated over the past 10-15 years due to its accessibility and image resolution capabilities.