Case Study: Athletes Torn Meniscus Healed with PRP, without Surgery

Athlete Had Successful PRP Therapy for a Torn Meniscus

A professional athlete came to us with complaints of his right knee being swollen, in pain and unable to fully bend it or put a lot of pressure on it, affecting his ability to train and perform.

This patient had an MRI showing a small tear to the meniscus, and referred him to physical therapy. He was having difficulty progressing with PT so decided to look into other options and presented to us.

We looked at his meniscus and knee under an ultrasound, while stressing the knee, and we were able to capture major disruption in the meniscus.

After 3 PRP injections, this athlete's meniscus no longer showed a tear and he was back to competing and training without pain.

Details on the Athletes Torn Meniscus Case: 

Patient Age: 26

Gender: Male 

Presentation: Inflamed knee. Pain in the knee, unable to bend it fully. 

Health History: No prior major medical conditions.

Personalized Treatment Protocol:

3 PRP injections over 6 weeks (4 cc's of 5x into the joint and 1 cc of 7x into the meniscus) under ultrasound guidance, each coupled with a single sessions of Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy at a 2.4 ATA for 90 minutes, with 3, 5 minute air breaks. 

Patient Outcome: Healed meniscus and a complete return to his athletics.

Why PRP Therapy is Popular Amongst Athletes

In recent years, Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP) therapy has gained significant traction within the realm of sports medicine, especially among professional athletes. The increased popularity can be attributed to several factors, notably its non-invasive nature, minimal downtime, and promising results in accelerating the healing process. Athletes typically want to get back to training or back to competing with as little downtime as possible, and PRP offers exactly this.

Traditional treatments often involve invasive procedures or lengthy rehabilitation periods, which can keep athletes sidelined for extended periods, impacting their performance and potentially their careers. PRP therapy offers an appealing alternative by harnessing the body's natural healing mechanisms to expedite recovery.

Notes from the clinical team at HMS:

PRP & HBOT May Be Used to Help the Following Injuries and Conditions: 

• Osteoarthritis 
• Plantar Fasciitis 
• Ligament Sprains or Tears
• Tennis Elbow 
• Ankle Sprains 
• Meniscus tears 
• Bursitis
• Tendinitis 
  
  

Utilize Your Body’s Natural Platelet-Rich Plasma to Heal

PRP therapy is a non-surgical procedure utilizing components of your own blood to stimulate healing in damaged tissue.  The platelets function by releasing growth factors and other cytokines through degranulation which stimulates repair and attracts stem cells to the region.

The procedure only requires a simple blood draw from your arm.  The blood is separated into distinct layers using a dual spin special high speed centrifuge. All injections are performed as an in-office procedure with state-of-the-art ultrasound guidance to ensure precise location of the PRP.

PRP is 100% natural and extremely safe. Because the PRP is made from the patient’s own blood, there’s no risk of rejection or danger of contracting a blood-borne infection. 

Hyperbaric Oxygen therapy uses 100% oxygen delivered under elevated pressure to saturate the blood plasma with oxygen levels 1,200-percent more than can be achieved otherwise. This process alters the inflammatory response and additionally increases the release and activation of stem cells from the bone marrow.

HBOT will increase the number of STEM cells in circulation, while PRP attracts and delivers these STEM cells  to the necessary areas.