In Europe, and more recently in the United States, an increased trend has emerged in the use of autologous blood products in an effort to facilitate healing in a variety of applications. In recent years, scientific research and technology has provided a new perspective on understanding the wound healing process. Initially platelets were thought to act exclusively with clotting. | Curr Rev Musculoskelet Med DOI s12178-008-9032-5 Platelet rich plasma injection grafts for musculoskeletal injuries a review Steven Sampson Michael Gerhardt Bert Mandelbaum Humana Press 2008 Abstract In Europe and the United States there is an increasing prevalence of the use of autologous blood products to facilitate healing in a variety of applications. Recently we have learned more about specific growth factors which play a crucial role in the healing process. With that knowledge there is abundant enthusiasm in the application of concentrated platelets which release a supra-maximal quantity of these growth factors to stimulate recovery in non-healing injuries. For 20 years the application of autologous PRP has been safely used and documented in many fields including orthopedics sports medicine dentistry ENT neurosurgery ophthalmology urology wound healing cosmetic cardiothoracic and maxillofacial surgery. This article introduces the reader to PRP therapy and reviews the current literature on this emerging treatment modality. In summary PRP provides a promising alternative to surgery by promoting safe and natural healing. However there are few controlled trials and mostly anecdotal or case reports. Additionally the sample sizes are frequently small limiting the generalization of the findings. Recently there is emerging literature on the beneficial effects of PRP for chronic non-healing tendon injuries including lateral epicondylitis and plantar fasciitis and cartilage degeneration Mishra and Pavelko The American Journal of Sports Medicine 10 10 1-5 2006 Barrett and Erredge Podiatry Today 17 37-42 2004 . However as clinical use increases more controlled studies are needed to further understand this treatment. S. Sampson El The Orthobiologic Institute TOBI Santa Monica CA USA e-mail drsampson@ M. Gerhardt B. Mandelbaum Santa Monica Orthopaedic Group Santa Monica CA USA Keywords Platelet rich plasma Injection Growth factors Tendon injury .
