PRP injections

PRP stands for platelet-rich plasma, an innovative and effective non-surgical treatment for joint and soft-tissue pain and inflammation. A sample of your own blood is taken and treated so that the plasma and platelets are extracted and concentrated. The platelet-rich plasma is then injected into your joint to reduce pain and restore movement.

PRP injections use your body’s natural healing processes to speed up recovery and reduce the need for surgery. The consultant orthopaedic surgeons and pain management specialists at The London Orthopaedic Clinic use ultrasound-guided PRP injections to treat problems including rotator cuff tears, knee osteoarthritis, tennis elbow and Achilles tendinopathy.

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What are PRP injections?

PRP is platelet-rich plasma, an innovative injectable treatment that harnesses the body’s ability to heal itself. PRP injections are a type of regenerative medicine.

Your consultant takes a blood sample then prepares it to concentrate the plasma, platelets and white cells. Plasma is the liquid part of your blood; when your blood is spun in a centrifuge, the heavy red blood cells are separated, and the plasma solution is rich in platelets which have an essential role in your body's healing processes.

The consultant reinjects the PRP into your body. The solution contains concentrated platelets that release natural growth factors that support tissue healing. PRP injections can treat osteoarthritis and accelerate the recovery of damaged tendons, ligaments, muscles and joints.

Who can benefit from PRP injections?

PRP injections can treat a range of musculoskeletal problems without surgery. The consultant orthopaedic surgeons and pain management specialists at The London Orthopaedic Clinic use PRP injections to treat pain and accelerate healing in a range of conditions, including:

Tennis elbow
Golfer’s elbow
Knee and hip osteoarthritis
Rotator-cuff tears
Achilles tendinopathy

PRP injections can be helpful as part of a comprehensive treatment plan to reduce musculoskeletal pain and improve your function.

About the procedure

What happens during PRP injections?

Your consultant or a consultant Radiologist will give your PRP injection in the outpatients' ultrasound clinic. It is a minimally invasive procedure, performed under local anaesthetic, so you will not need to stay in hospital overnight. Treatment usually takes around thirty minutes.

As PRP stimulates your natural healing processes, your specialist may recommend that you stop taking anti-inflammatory medicines around the time of treatment.

Your specialist will take a blood sample and prepare using a centrifuge to concentrate the platelets and optimise the healing potential.
Your consultant will clean the skin around the treatment area to reduce your infection risk.
They will inject a local anaesthetic to numb the skin and tissues around the treatment area. This may sting a little but shouldn’t be painful.
When the area is numb, your specialist will use ultrasound guidance to precisely inject the plasma and activated platelets into the injured or diseased joint or soft tissue.
Finally, they will withdraw the needle and apply a plaster to the wound.
You can expect relief to start 1-2 weeks after treatment; however, it can take longer to achieve the full benefit. For optimum results, your specialist may recommend a course of 2-3 treatments given at intervals of between one and two weeks.

What are the benefits of PRP injections?

PRP injections use your own blood to augment the healing of joints and soft tissues. PRP injections are safe, and research indicates that they can decrease pain and reduce the need for surgery in tendinopathies and problems like tennis elbow.

In clinical trials looking at patients with knee osteoarthritis, PRP injections were reported to reduce pain and improve knee function when checked at six weeks and three months. Although the effect can decline after six months, in one study, most patients had less pain one year after receiving a PRP injection.

PRP injections can decrease the need for painkilling medications, anti-inflammatories and invasive surgery. Your specialist may use them as part of a comprehensive treatment package, including lifestyle measures, physiotherapy and shockwave therapy.

What are the risks of PRP injections?

All joint injections carry risks; the specialists at The London Orthopaedic Clinic use the highest standards of cleanliness and care to reduce the risk of complications. At The London Orthopaedic Clinic, all joint injections are performed using ultrasound guidance, ensuring accurate injection placement, reducing pain, and offering better results.
PRP is generally very safe and well-tolerated. The risks of treatment include:

Pain and swelling following the injection. Your consultant may recommend rest for 14 days after the injection, followed by a gentle reintroduction to exercise.
Localised bruising from the injection.
Minimal risk of joint infection.

Patient information

PRP for tennis elbow

PRP for plantar fasciitis

PRP for jumper's knee

What are the alternatives to PRP injections?

The London Orthopaedic Clinic offers a wide range of non-surgical treatments, including the latest therapeutic injections.

Our experienced consultant orthopaedic surgeons and pain management specialists provide comprehensive assessment, investigation, diagnosis and treatment of musculoskeletal pain. If you are unsure what treatment you need, they can give an expert opinion and tailor a treatment programme for your needs.

Alternatives to PRP injections include:

Arthrosamid® injections:

Viscosupplement injections

nSTRIDE® injections

Shockwave therapy

Steroid injections

If injections and other conservative treatments don’t control your symptoms, the expert orthopaedic surgeons at The London Orthopaedic Clinic can operate to treat your pain and restore your flexibility and function.

PRP treatment costs

PRP is an innovative treatment that is not yet widely available on the NHS. The London Orthopaedic Clinic offers competitive packages for self-paying patients. Contact a member of our friendly team on 020 7186 1000 or at info@londonorthopaedic.com to find out more.